Easter Sunday 2010 - The Smell of Something New

John 20:1-18 (NRSV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

THOUGHTS:

Spring is coming, I said.  No, said the cab driver, spring is here already, you just can't see it yet.   My allergies reminded me that he was right.  I had a runny nose for days because of flowers I could not yet see but my other senses were telling me were real.

It's often that way when we face challenges and disappointments.  A relationship ends and we see only faults and failings.  A job or internship we had hoped for fell through and we can't see anything else happening for us.  The world depresses us. Someone we love gets sick or even dies and we see pain and separation.

Easter is like God giving us a new way to sense life.   When Mary got to the garden, Jesus met her there but she could not recognize him.  It was only when he called out her name that she really saw who he was.   She was so excited to see him alive, she about jumped into his arms.    

That's the way it is when we see life the way God does.   We find gratitude even in relationships that have ended.   Failed job prospects lead to new opportunities we could not have otherwise imagined.   Even sickness and death are ultimately seen as temporary conditions.

Easter calls us to perceive life with more than just our eyes.   There is more to living than landing a good job and making enough money to pay the bills and raise a family.   The strength and will to change the world found in the power of love that makes everything seem vivid.

PRAYER: 

Dear Lord,  May your gracious love resurrect my senses.  Save me from the dead end of cynicism and help me to see things in a new way today.  Amen.

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Thoughts by Pastor Phil Hirsch, Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #39

Matthew 27:57-66

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth ⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. ⁶²The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³and said, 'Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, "After three days I will rise again." ⁶⁴Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, "He has been raised from the dead", and the last deception would be worse than the first.' ⁶⁵Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.' ⁶⁶So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

THOUGHTS:

So can you believe it is Easter eve?  We are about to celebrate the most important day of the Christian year and one of the most important days in human history.  For me Lent has flown by.  It seems like just yesterday when I was enjoying Fat Tuesday Pancakes and receiving Ash Wednesday Ashes.  Now we have celebrated the Last Supper, remembered the Crucifixion, and prepare to celebrate the Resurrection.

When I read the above passage, I am reminded of several things I would like to share.  First I am reminded of the passion play.  I had the privilege of seeing The Passion play in Oberammergau, Germany.  Every ten years this city puts the play together that is shown dozens of times.  It is a two day marathon, in which hundreds of people pack an outdoor stage to watch.  It is presented in German, but comes across with a universal understanding.  People come from all over the world just to see this play.  Seeing the way everyone in this small country town come together around the story of Christ, has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

I can't help but think of Paul Harvey when I read these verses.  We know parts of the story, (we know the whole story in fact) but now we are filling in or being reminded of the details.  Christ was dead.  His body prepared for burial and then placed in a sealed tomb.  Tomorrow we will be able to say; now we "know the rest of the story".


PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Christ.  Allow us to finish Lent on a high note, and have a meaning full Easter. Amen.

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Thoughts by Christopher Bergtholdt, a Senior at George Mason University involved with LCM-GMU

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #39

John 19:16b-30

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.  Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross.  It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."  Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and In Greek.  Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do no write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"  Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."  When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier.  They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.  So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it."  This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots."  And that is what the soldiers did.

     Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."  Then he said to the disciple, "here is your mother."  And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

     After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty."  A jar full of sour wine was standing there.  So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished."  Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

THOUGHTS: 

Sometimes it's unexpected and they are missed all together.  Sometimes however, they are held dear because they are intentional words of love.  Sometimes they are words of forgiveness or redemption.  Sometimes they are words of thankfulness.  Sometimes, they are words of hope.  What I am writing about are the last words of a loved one who has passed on.

     As a pastor I have had opportunities to be with friends and families as they have watched their husband, parent, or friend breathe their last breath.  People hold onto every word spoken and move made.  A depth of emotion is shared.  It is perhaps one of the most intimate experiences to share with another.

     In many ways, Jesus' death on the cross was very different.  He died a prisoner's death.  He was hung on a cross for all to sneer and jeer at with cruel words and laughter.  His was not an intimate setting where loved ones gathered closely around singing gentle songs and praying prayers for peace.  Remember, most of his disciples had scattered.  Instead, Jesus was surrounded by soldiers who mocked him and made a game out of dividing up his garments and ironically placed a crown of thorns on his head and sign above Him that said "King of the Jews."

     Jesus spoke His final words from the cross, recorded in the gospels.  Though He suffered greatly and was treated so poorly, Jesus' last words expressed love and care – "Woman, behold your son and son behold your mother."  They too were words of forgiveness – "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  They too were words of redemption – "Today, you will be with me in paradise."

     They also were words of hope - "It is finished."  Yes, Jesus, in His death, had accomplished what He came to do, to carry our sins to the cross.  "It is finished" is what He spoke on the cross and three days later, we learn "it is finished" has made the words "It has just begun" possible for us to say.

     Death is not the last word.  Life is because of Jesus' willingness to die for us.                  


PRAYER:

Dear Lord, as we reflect on the sacrifices you were willing to go through for us, help us to be truly thankful for your saving act of love on the cross.  Give us strength too to speak words of love, forgiveness, and hope to those whom we encounter each day.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

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Thoughts by Rev. Darcy Percy, Associate Pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Fairfax, VA)

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #38

Exodus 12:1-14 (NRSV)

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

THOUGHTS:

As Christians, we believe that is was not a mere coincidence that Jesus was crucified on the day before the Passover (see John 19:14,31), the same day that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered.  The blood of Jesus smeared on the cross on that hillside outside Jerusalem is effectively smeared on the doorposts of the universe.  Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, without blemish.  The blood of Jesus is the sign on our world that we are all God's people, God's beloved children.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, thank you for your mercy.  Today, and everyday, we remember your grace.  Help us to live out your grace and mercy, sharing your love with all those we meet.  In the holy name of Jesus the Christ we pray, AMEN.

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Thoughts by Ben Buss, Lutheran Campus Minister at George Mason University

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #37

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

THOUGHTS:

We have entered into Holy Week, and during this week there is a lot to consider. In fact the darkness and brokenness of our world can be overwhelming.  So from where do we gain strength?  "Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith," and considering "him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners..." This week we are invited, we are called to look to Jesus....considering him who took on the darkness, took on our brokenness that we can not withstand, so that we will persevere in faith and hope.  And in this time of consideration, this week of Christ's Passion, we know we are never alone but surrounded by "so great a cloud of witnesses" and the very center himself, Jesus Christ.  As we journey further into this week of passion, may we look to the center and "consider him" and draw strength from the one who took on all of the world's death and darkness, in order that we may live fully.  Consider him, Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, resting in the strength that is found only in him.

PRAYER:

Jesus Christ, you have taken on our brokenness and darkness.  As we journey this week, remembering the gift of life you have given all on the cross, may we look to you, consider you, and know you as the source of strength in our life. Amen.

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Thoughts by Rev. Kim Conway, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church (Dale City)

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #36

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

      "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
      the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20 Where are the wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast boast in the Lord."

THOUGHTS:

Jon Foreman calls us "The Church of the dropouts, the losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools." Throughout the New Testament we are called to forget every law that society has taught us--every iPod commercial and body-image-centric magazine--and to take up the cross. When Jesus was crucified, the cross didn't mean glory; it meant death and torture, but most of all, utter humiliation. It was heavy and victims were forced to carry it the longest path to their final resting place. Jesus' crime read simply, "King of the Jews," and he was nailed, naked and exposed before all, between two rebels.

This is our image of mercy and love and salvation: our mighty King killed the way of dropouts, losers, sinners, failures, and fools. Once a symbol of shame, the cross has become our greatest comfort.

I found myself coming to God during the same time I was finding out that I was gay. While I was finding that I was something that by societal means is despicable and foolish, I was being called into that very body that so publically abhors me and yet was experiencing God's indiscriminate love. It was humbling. It is humbling. It's my cross to bear. So daily I lift this heavy cross as the outcast and the despised. Likewise, Paul tells us, we all come from humble origins of sorts. Each of us has our cross to bear, that which separates us from each other and from God. And so we come humbly to the Lord, so that none of us can boast except in Him.

PRAYER:

Lord, we come to You on our knees, a people weary from status and rules and ostracism. As we carry each our crosses, lift us not into shame but to Your eternal glory. 

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Thoughts by Sarah, student at George Mason University involved with Lutheran Campus Ministry

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #35

John 12:1-8 (and 9-11 also) (NRSV)

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?' 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.'

THOUGHTS:

In the three other canonical gospels, a "nameless" woman anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and is praised by Jesus for her act of love. This woman-- "Mary" in John's gospel-- is "nameless" only because those writers chose not to bother with recognizing her worth. Unlike Mary, whose actions communicated to Jesus in an intimate way that he mattered to her, that he was a beloved child of God who faced a certain and unjust death, these writers chose consciously or unconsciously not to extend love. Why does it matter? Because those choices, and others like them made by the gospel writers, come to bear on the decisions of others that echo into our future. Interpretations were formulated that colluded with negligence, erasure, and the destruction of others. The intention of these writers does not make the impact of these words any less real.

This has been on my mind lately, especially  when I encountered the rest of the verses that are included in this selection from the "revised" "common" lectionary. John 12:9-11 reads thus:

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

Rife with anti-Judaism, these verse portray Jewish leaders as petty and clannish representatives who would rather turn to murder than face the supposedly "obvious" insufficiencies of their religious practices and beliefs when compared to those of Jesus. No matter what one might argue about why these verses were written, this is how they are heard, and they justify the false dichotomy of good, grace-lovin' Christians and bad/confused law-keeping Jews. I was pissed to hear them read aloud last Sunday in the progressive Lutheran church I attend, by the warm-hearted and intelligent pastor no less. I became enraged when this pastor at no point addressed these verses in his sermon about God's love reflected in Mary's acts. He could have pointed out their dissonance with this love that God gives and inspires. He could have chosen to not give them any air-time. Instead, he consciously or unconsciously chose to read them and participate in approximately two thousand years of Christian anti-Semitism.

Mary's love is a concrete action, and so is Jesus' in this instance. Jesus defends Mary's dignity, safeguarding her well-being under Judas' attack (who has his own shit to examine). This is what love does: it builds up other people in their humanness (and respects all other living creatures and life-giving systems) and resists the forces, ideologies, and conscious and unconscious choices that lead to wanton destruction. And let's be clear: we don't love because we're innocent of these destructive ways. Hell no. We love because we've a encountered a Love that has has showed us that life is better for all when we, for example, reside in religious identities that do not affirm their value by badmouthing people of different faiths. Love affirms us in our inherent worth, and, if we allow it to work through us, uproots the violence of oppression in our souls and in our societies. Love enables us to call out these forces that mindlessly enslave others (or ourselves) for our own (or other people's) social, economic, and political gain. Love does this and, as another John wrote, love comes from God.

PRAYER:

Holy One, during Lent you teach us your love again and again. May our hearts grasp hold of this wisdom. Lead us to repentance, Lead us to action, and give us hope for a new creation, where love reigns and no one or nothing is ever crucified again. May it be so. Amen.

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Thoughts by Ben Masters, a graduate of George Mason University and an alum of Lutheran Campus Ministry at GMU. He is currently working at Open Arms of Minnesota in Minneapolis, through Lutheran Volunteers Corps and is a proud member of the Wellstone House, who also says: "P.S. For folks on college campuses, folks in diversity and multicultural services often have some good resources for resisting oppression. Go look them up. A shout out to the folks at George Mason, who have some kickass opportunities to resist heterosexism and transphobia for LGBTQ Pride Week this week. Blessings and peace, y'all."

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 - Sixth Sunday

Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV)

 After [Jesus] had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" just say this: "The Lord needs it." ' So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?' They said, 'The Lord needs it.' Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!' 

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, order your disciples to stop.' 

He answered, 'I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.'

THOUGHTS:

Jesus was probably not the only one entering Jerusalem that day.  Millions of Jews would have been walking into Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the holy city for the observances of Passover.

On the west side of Jerusalem, opposite from Jesus' entry, historians tell us that there would have been a magnificent military procession as Pontius Pilate and other Roman officials would have been riding horses amidst an entourage of imperial soldiers wearing armor and carrying weapons.  They came to town for most Jewish festivals to beef up security in case the crowds got restless and started causing trouble.  It was intentionally a visible depiction of the oppression of the empire.

Back on the east side of town, Jesus enters on an animal that has never been ridden -- a practice denoting kingship, but it is a donkey.  It was a parody of the grandness of the Roman procession, and it carried the opposite message as well: hope for the downtrodden, liberation for captives, and freedom from oppression. 

As we continue through Holy Week, remember that God is concerned with the here and now in the world we live in.  As we live our our faith, how do we continue to proclaim and work for hope, freedom, and liberation?

PRAYER:

Lord God, you give us hope in times of suffering and darkness.  Guide our lives in faithful service to you.  In all we do, we are yours!  AMEN.

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Thoughts by Ben Buss, Lutheran Campus Minister at George Mason University

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #34

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you and have from God?  And ye are not your own for you were bought with a price, the Holy blood of Jesus.

THOUGHTS:

When asked to write a devotional for Lenten Devotions, I decided to go deep to my roots. My Grandma has memorized a set of bible verses every night before she goes to bed and I wanted to get to know her better by exploring one of those bible verses today.

When thinking about this passage I immediately go to the fact that I'm subsisting on four hours of sleep today. How does one make decisions about what to do every day? If your friends need you, do you turn them down in order to treat your body right? Why do so many people in the world treat their bodies so poorly? I have friends that loose sleep, friends that drink till they toss their cookies, friends that smoke. Why do people treat their bodies so poorly? Treating ourselves poorly is extremely common I've seen at least, and I want to use this as an opportunity to encourage everyone to try to take some part of the day out so that they can treat their bodies like a temple.

To me, this first verse is a pretty self-explanatory passage, its just almost never done especially while in college.

To address the second part of this passage. "And ye are not your own for you were bought with a price, the Holy blood of Jesus." I kinda think that this verse relates very well to the temple verse in that I think that part of the reason people don't treat their bodies like a temple is that they go around saying I too much. I'm stressed, I need this, I need to take a break on the couch watching Iron Chef (what I'm currently doing while writing this), I'm sad and need a drink, I'm happy and I'm going to celebrate by getting horribly drunk etc. What would happen if instead we said, "what is god calling me to do today? Would we stop this self-destructive behavior that so many of us engage in while we are in school? An interesting question to leave off with..

PRAYER:

Dear Lord. Allow us to keep our bodies a holy temple to you o lord. Allow us to take care of ourselves and to always ask, what are you calling us to do today?" How can we be your good grain, as bought by Jesus Christ our lord?

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Thoughts by Matthew Goldenberg, senior psychology major active with Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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

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Lent 2010 #33

Isaiah 54:9-10

^9"This is like the days of Noah to me:

Just as I swore that the waters of Noah
would never again go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
and will not rebuke you.

                               
^10"For the mountains may depart

and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

THOUGHTS:

As an ordained member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I understand my vocational calling to be that of parish pastor.  During the past three years, however, my call has, in actuality, shifted from that of pastor to primary caregiver for my 66-year old husband.  Following complications from back and knee surgery, and the onset of Parkinson's disease, John's mobility and his independence   have diminished significantly.  Just this past December, he had another operation, on the "good" knee this time.  I'm pleased to report that after what seems like forever, he's making significant progress.  Still, those marriage vows I made of "for better or for worse" have taken on a whole new meaning than they did during our wedding ceremony!

There have been numerous occasions over these three years when my "for worse" chores have seemed insurmountable.  I have had a few frustrated conversations with God and have asked "why?" a lot.  "You called me to be a pastor, Lord!!  So why am I behaving like a nursemaid rather than preaching and making disciples?"  "Why, why, why?"

What has provided ongoing hope for me are words throughout scripture, like the ones in this passage, assuring me of God's promise to be with me no matter what—"for better or for worse."  And as I remember that promise, my one-person "pity party" quickly comes to an end.

In the case of Isaiah, those words were a reminder of God's promise to God's chosen people.  They were still in exile in Babylon following the destruction and takeover of God's holy city of Jerusalem by enemy forces—an exile caused, as the Israelites understood it, by God's wrath at their sinfulness and their violation of covenant to be God's people.  In spite of the worst, God assures them that God still loves them—that God will never leave them—that God will never break God's covenant with the people.  No matter what, we might paraphrase, God will keep God's "wedding vows" to remain faithful.

That promise is as sure for us today as it was for the Israelites of long ago.  In those times that God may seem distant, whether caused by our own sinfulness or as a result of illness or happenstance, our compassionate God will never depart from us—from you.  And that's a promise!!

PRAYER:

God of love and peace, you have promised never to forsake your people.  Open our hearts to an awareness of your steadfast love for each of us, especially during times and circumstances that seem particularly dark and hopeless.  We pray in the name of your Son Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord.  Amen

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Thoughts by Rev. Terry Hannon, Vice-President of the Board for Northern Virginia Lutheran Campus Ministries, Inc.

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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***Feel free to share them with your friends!***

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

Also available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7958874287