Lent 2009 #28

Habakkuk 3:2-6,10-13a,16b-19
2 O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.

3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 The brightness was like the sun; rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden. 5 Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind. 6 He stopped and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The eternal mountains were shattered; along his ancient pathways the everlasting hills sank low.

10 The mountains saw you, and writhed; a torrent of water swept by; the deep gave forth its voice. The sun raised high its hands; 11 the moon stood still in its exalted place, at the light of your arrows speeding by, at the gleam of your flashing spear. 12 In fury you trod the earth, in anger you trampled nations. 13 You came forth to save your people, to save your anointed.

16 I wait quietly for the day of calamity to come upon the people who attack us. 17 Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.


THOUGHTS:
I write this by the glow of my laptop in the darkness of my observance of "earth hour". Having flipped all the breakers in my house, the only noise is the purring cat beside me.



The first two chapters of Habakkuk are prophetic dialogue containing complaints against God for continued injustice in the world and God's response. The author is trying to reconcile God the all powerful, compassionate, and caring with the world in which the dominant imperial power slays nations without pity and seizes homes from proper owners. Why is God silent? How does a person of faith deal with this situation? How do we deal with this situation?


Then we come to the closing chapter: the psalm/song of prayer you see above, framed by notes about instruments and musical style. What does it say? It's affirms faith in God. The author expresses awe at what God has done in history, during times long gone. Habakkuk pleas that God intervene in modern times -- remembering divine compassion and acting on it!


Can you relate?
We live in a world where too many lives are lost to violence.
We live in a world where too many people are hungry.

We live in a world where too many live in fear.
We live in a world of injustice, just like Habakkuk did.
We boldly pray that, either by divine mystery or by working through us, God will make things right!



Habakkuk's song of prayer continues with a vivid image of God coming toward Israel from the south, and of nature taking note!
After this image, Habakkuk returns to the present ... to waiting patiently for God while rejoicing in trust and hope ... to relying on God for strength ...


PRAYER:
God, you are our refuge in times of trial. We place our hope and trust in you. Lead your people to care for the hungry, lonely, scared people out there -- for we can relate to being hungry, lonely, and scared. We wait patiently as you move in mysterious ways. We pray and act boldly and faithfully as your people. In Jesus name, AMEN.


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LCM at GMU has been recognized as a Reconciling in Christ organization for taking a stand as being opening and affirming of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as ... pretty much everyone (see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran/affirmation.html). We invite you to stand up for the LGBTQ community this week during Pride Week at GMU. Join in spreading God's love, join us for worship on Wednesday in the Bistro at 7:47pm, and check out the Pride Week calendar at http://pride.gmu.edu/

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University . Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #27

Psalm 51:10-12

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

THOUGHTS by Chris Bergtholdt, junior at GMU:

So, first some context for these three lines. This Psalm is from right after Nathan confronts David about committing adultery with Bathsheba. The preceding verses are filled with David asking for God's forgiveness and describing the short falls of his human nature. These lines catch my attention. David is asking God to change him, to replace his sinful heart. David wants to be renewed. In the season of Lent, we are preparing for Easter. We are in a time of spiritual renewal before celebrating the resurrection of Christ. These three verses seem to sum up what we are trying to achieve in Lent.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, In this time of Lent, allow us to be renew by your spirit. Give to us clean hearts that we may better follow your ways. Be with us as we prepare to celebrate the joy in the gift of salvation that is Jesus Christ, Amen.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University . Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #26

Isaiah 30:15-18 
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused 16 and said, "No! We will flee upon horses"— therefore you shall flee! and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"— therefore your pursuers shall be swift! 17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, until you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.
     18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. 

THOUGHTS by Ben Masters, senior at GMU:
Here at George Mason, "busy" is default. And things are beginning to get busier; April brings Pride Week, International Week, final projects and papers... and who knows what else. It's one of those seasons I'm not sure I'll survive-- rushing from place to place, not getting nearly enough sleep, trying to get everything done. Into this context Isaiah drops this string of verses, deep and ringing like the rhythms rolling off of one of B-Buss' djembes. Rest. Quietness. Wait.

What gets me is that this rest is not complacent-- in it is salvation. Quietness isn't a sign of weakness-- it's strength. And the waiting isn't about us being impatient to get the next thing over and done, but God is waiting to be gracious. God is waiting to show mercy and establish justice. God is waiting for us to slow down enough to see that and to let "God give God" as St. Augustine puts it. Maybe if we pause, we might even hear an invitation to join in the work of justice, mercy, and peace-- not out of anxiety, but out of whatever quiet strength that Isaiah is hinting at.

PRAYER:
(Breathe slowly for a few moments, holding the breath in for a moment before breathing out.) 
Holy Spirit, breath of life, breathe into us space and time in which to behold your grace, and to behold each other as neighbor and family. Rise up to show us your mercy, O God, and renew in us your dream of a world restored to wholeness. AMEN. 

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Ben Masters is a senior at GMU involved with LCM.  He plans to spend the year after graduation involved with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, and he blogs at http://letusbebread.blogspot.com/

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #25

1 John 3:16-18

16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

THOUGHTS:

Jesus modeled perfect love for us in allowing himself to be crucified for our sake. He allowed himself to be tortured to death so that we might have life. This is one of those passages that can convict us, because it asks how we are responding. It tells us we should be laying down our lives for:

... others

... friends

... neighbors

... strangers

... communities

... and all humanity.

Verse 17 reminds me of a quote from Dorothy Day: "If you have 2 coats, you've stolen one from the poor."

It reflects that most of us live in abundance: with closets full of shoes, numerous pairs of shoes, several coats, hats, and other accessories ... many purely for "decoration" of our bodies. We like the way they make us look and we enjoy the variety. You may even have the luxury of having things like iPods, computers, TVs, and video games.

Yet most of the world, and many people not far from where we live, have little. There are people struggling to stay warm. There are people without food to eat. There are many people who need your extra coats and shoes.

When asked why so many people live in poverty, Rob Bell has responded that the reason is because the church isn't doing our job. We are called to care for each other, to give from our abundance to those who have less. It isn't easy. I struggle with this all the time.

PRAYER:

Lord God, we thank you for all the blessings in our lives: food, clothing, education, housing, friends, medical care, and so much more. Help us to lay down our lives for others. Help us to learn that there is joying in giving things away. Help us to learn the way of Jesus. All this we pray in your holy name. AMEN.

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TODAY: Worship with us. 7:47pm in SUB 1 room B (3rd floor) on Wednesday 3/25/2009. Bring a friend: ALL are welcome!

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University. Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #24

Luke 5:1-11 

1 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

THOUGHTS:

In Luke, this is the first meeting between Jesus and Peter (aka Simon).  Jesus basically says, "since you aren't using your boat at the moment, do me a favor and move me just far enough from shore that everyone can hear me without pushing me around."  We don't know what exactly Jesus was teaching, but afterward he tells Peter to take him fishing.

Note that the passage starts out saying they are cleaning their nets -- they've given up fishing for the day.  It's probably not the best time for fishing.  I can imagine Peter response as a polite way of saying, "I'm telling you the fish aren't out today, but clearly you're some kind of big shot, so I'll humor you.  It's not like I have anything better to do with my day."

Then what happens?  They catch TONS of fish!  

What's Peter's response?  We might expect Peter to be focused on Jesus as being a prophet, psychic, magician, or just really lucky. Peter instead immediately looks inward, reponding "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" The beginning of Peter's faith in Jesus is to be introspective, to realize he isn't worthy, to be scared (maybe thinking he's about to be judged), and to tell Jesus to go away! Peter is completely freaked out by Jesus!

During Lent, we also take time to look inward. Sometimes, we might be scared by what we find, but remember how Jesus responds to Peter: "Do not be afraid." Jesus turned their job as fishermen into a calling to fish for people. They then left everything and followed Jesus.

Today, take some time to honestly look inside yourself, and do not be afraid. Listen to see if you can hear Jesus calling to to follow? What does that look like in your life?

PRAYER:

Lord God, we thank you for your mercy, compassion, and teaching.  Help us to not be afraid of ourselves, of the future, or of you.  We open ourselves to your calling.  Lead us and guide us each day.  In Jesus name we pray.  AMEN.

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Theology Pub at Brion's Grille on TODAY (3/24) at 5:15pm.  All are welcome.  

Ride leaving the campus ministry office (SUB 1 rm 207) at 5pm.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009 #23

Psalm 107:1-9,42-43
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; 7 he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. 9 For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.

42 The upright see it and are glad; and all wickedness stops its mouth. 43 Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.



THOUGHTS:
These verses proclaim that:
God leads the lost and gathers people together;
God provides for the thirsty, not just a little bit, but until they are satisfied;

God feeds the hungry, not with scraps and crumbs, but with good things;
God loves humanity and cares for us -- probably in ways we don't fully understand.


In response, the Psalmist praises God and calls on people to be glad and consider the steadfast love of God.


Take sometime today to think about the love of God. Lift your heart and mind to God, who cares for each of us, and also for people "collected" together in community. Praise the steadfast love of the Lord!


PRAYER: "Christ shield me this day: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me." (from "The Breastplate of St. Patrick").

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Theology Pub at Brion's Grille on Tuesday 3/24 at 5:15pm. All are welcome.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University. Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009: Fourth Sunday

As I mentioned last week, Sundays are not part of Lent, but rather always celebrations of the resurrection. To mark this distinction, instead of my thoughts on scripture, here's some bits by others that I find interesting...

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"God's will will be done on earth whether we ask or not. We pray, in the Lord's Prayer that it might be done through us." -- Unknown

[When we pray] "not only God in heaven is being petitioned and asked to act. We are also charging ourselves, as part of the body of Christ, with some responsibility for answering the prayer. To pray as a Christian demands concrete involvement in trying to bring about what is pleaded for in the prayer." -- Ronald Rolheiser in "The Holy Longing: The Search for Christian Spirituality"

"Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship. Then it moved to Greece and became a philosophy, then it went to Rome and became an institution, and then it went to Europe and became a government. Finally it came to America where we made it an enterprise." -- Richard Halverson, while he was US Senate Chaplain

"Our discontent is why we engage the church; why we don't leave." -- Shane Claiborn

"God remembers. And reminds us who we are." ... "It's not enough to feel good, to feel loved, and forget who we are called to be." -- Alexie Torres-Fleming

Oh, and check it out: PRETZELS were invented (probably by monks) around 1400 years ago as a snack to get people through fasts during Lent. An interesting read: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0535.html

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Theology Pub at Brion's Grille on Tuesday 3/24 at 5:15pm. All are welcome.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University. Feel free to share them with your friends! For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com