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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Lent 2009: Thank you -- live in the Easter promise of new life!

This is the last message that will go out this year on this Lenten Devotions Facebook group, blog, and email list.  I just wanted to thank everyone who read our Lenten Devotions this year.  I hope our devotions have helped you grow closer to God this Lent.  

We are now in the season of Easter, and we change our focus from the introspective contemplativeness of Lent, into joyfully living out the promise of new life found in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  

Also, check out the discussion of Easter and doubt at http://www.dcyoungadults.org/featured/easter/

For more information on our ministry:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University

  + Website: http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran 

  + Facebook group: GMU Lutherans 

  + Facebook profile: Mason Lutherans 

GMU747 Creative Christian Worship

  + Website: http://gmu747.org 

  + Facebook group: GMU747 

Additional thanks for those who helped me out by writing a devotion or few: Ben Masters, Chris Bergtholdt, and Katie Kane, Rev. Lisa Hufford, (and anyone I missed).  Thanks also to those who commented or otherwise provoked discussion.  ;-)

Grace and peace,

Ben Buss

Lutheran Campus Minister at George Mason University

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BAKE SALE: Today (4/13), Noon-2pm, JC East Plaza Sidewalk (to raise money for our Relay for Life team  to benefit the American Cancer Society).

THEOLOGY PUB: Join us as we eat, drink, and chat about life, theology, and God.  Brion's Grille at 5:15pm on Tuesday (4/14).  Rides from SUB1 room 207 at 5pm.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

SPECIAL INVITATION: This Wednesday (4/15), our "747" worship experience will be super exciting as students are planning and leading worship as a project for their class on "The Sacred and the Erotic".  Join us, and reclaim your body in light of the resurrection of Christ.  7:47pm in the JC Bistro.

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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  

Lent 2009 #40: Holy Saturday

Psalm 22:1-2,14-19 
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled;
17 I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!

THOUGHTS:

This Psalm starts with words later uttered by Jesus while hanging on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Have you ever felt forsaken by God"

Does it ever feel like God is far away?

Today, we remember the Sabbath that Jesus spent dead ... in Hell according to some interpretations.

It's the epitome of being far away from God.  

Today, we contemplate how Jesus (God incarnate) suffered complete separation from his own divine nature.  

Our understanding is that Jesus did this so we wouldn't have to ... that in ways we can at best comprehend only abstractly, his death puts us into a better relationship with God.

Today, we allow ourselves to deal with our fear of being completely cut off from God.  Yet, we are not overcome with despair because there is hope ... a promise of new life around the corner.

PRAYER (adapted from "Lutheran Book of Prayer" Concordia Publishing House, 1970:

     Lord God almighty, we are silenced at the grave of your son.  We confess that a great mystery confronts us.  By faith we know that he who died is the one who unlocked the great secret of your love.  His tomb is our tomb.  He carried with him to the grave our sin and our death that he might break their hold on us.  

     Trusting in our Lord's promise to rise again, we come not to mourn, but to confess the sin that he would leave buried.  Have mercy on us!  Grant us the Easter faith that anticipates with joy the day on which, in him, we too come forth from the tomb to truly live.  We pray in his name and for his sake.  Amen.

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REMINDER: Carpool to worship with us (meet at SUB 1 room 207).  Email lutheran@gmu.edu if you have questions.

4/12 - EASTER: Meet at 10:25am to carpool to a local Lutheran congregation for Easter worship!

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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