Thursday February 26th, 2009

Lessons from the Daily Lectionary
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Psalm 104; Deuteronomy 7:6-11; Titus 1:1-16; John 1:29-34

Meditation:
Animals again! I’m not making this stuff up. Who thinks that one will end up finding a National Geographic-type presentation when opening the morning Psalm for the second day of Lent? But there they are – in a setting of mountains and waterfalls, blue skies overhead, we see God giving drink to birds nesting in bushes, cattle grazing in fields, wild goats springing on mountain boulders and badgers finding refuge in the hollow of the stones (Coneys in the Rocks, Bonnie!). If you feel like singing: “Fairest Lord Jesus, robed in the blooming garb of spring,” you’re not out of tune, here.

I’ve heard that the literal meaning of Lent is “spring.” (And indeed, Wikipedia confirms: “In the late Middle Ages, as sermons began to be given in the vernacular instead of Latin, the English word ‘lent’ was adopted. This word initially simply meant spring [as in Dutch lente] and derives from the Germanic root for ‘long’ because in the spring the days visibly lengthen.”) I’ve always liked the juxtaposition of the rather staid and solemn reputation of Lent with its “hidden” meaning of creation, spring, providence, life.

How do we hold these things together? Lent is the period when we are invited to think with Jesus: “there’s a road ahead. It leads to Jerusalem, to a trial, to Calvary.” That’s the sober reality of Lent. Yet, beyond Jerusalem, trial and Calvary, we see that the road also leads to new life.

So, in other words, underneath the daily challenges and cross-bearing, there is a pull of hope that comes with following Jesus. There is a trust in God’s providence which underlies the bright National Geographic pictures of nature (Psalm 104), which resounds generation to generation in the faithful (Deuteronomy 7), which calls us to the testimonies of “aha” John 1).* Dear friends, walk with Jesus today. He is on a cross-bearing journey, but the days also “lengthen” as he walks forward. Mark his steps as you journey today in Lent.

Prayer:

Fairest Lord, Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God to earth come down.
Thee will I cherish. Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring.
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Amen.

*The Titus reading truly leaves me speechless!