Giving to the poor is another of the foundational practices for our springing into a deeper life with God. But we must be careful that we do not ignore it or do it in order to feel good about ourselves. We must practice it out of a sense of gratitude to God for what God has done in us, a sense of a call to generosity, and as a way to connect with (be in relationship with) those who are less fortunate than we.
When the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, our almsgiving is rooted in an understanding that when we see the poor, we see Jesus. An understanding that when we see Jesus in the poor we are converted, transformed, and renewed.
Breath Prayer:
In the poor, . . . let me see you.
THIS WEEK’S THEME:
THE CALL OF JESUS
First Sunday in Lent, March 10
And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
—Luke 3:22b
I love baptisms. There is something so warm, joy filled, and mysterious about them. For infants to adults, baptism is an obvious marker in a person’s life. Life is never quite the same after that moment.
In my first appointment, the baptismal font was made of white marble. It was not huge but it fit the space, and since the rest of the sanctuary was wood paneled, the white marble stood out. My oldest son, who was 18 months old, would come into the sanctuary during the week and go straight to the font, stretch his arm up as he stood on his tippy toes, and say, “Watta.” I would pick him up and let him play a bit with the water and say, “Always remember that you belong to God!” That was fourteen years ago. Since then my son has seen many infants and adults baptized and he is no longer fascinated by the font inside the sanctuary. He is asking interesting questions about God, the church, Jesus, and why all of it matters. I am thankful that he is asking these questions, but the truth is that the answer has not changed. The one thing that I want him to remember is that he belongs to God, in him God is pleased!
As we begin this Lenten season, you might be wondering about your place, your identity, your reason for reading this guide. As we continue, hear the invitation of Jesus, for you too are beloved, you belong. Baptism has marked you forever. In the weeks ahead, may you hear God’s call to go on this adventure!
Breath Prayer:
In me, . . . you are well pleased.
Monday, March 11
“Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.”
—Matthew 4:19
God always invites. There’s no need for coercion, manipulation, or force. The invitation is always rooted in relationship, a desire to restore connection so that we can live into fullness.
It is a two-way street. God wants us to reconcile and wants us to follow on a different path. Often we convince ourselves that the path that we have been on is the path toward fruitfulness and new life. We then ask God to bless our path, to come with us along the way. This Lenten season, I want you to remember that God is inviting us to follow in a different path, in the path that God showed us in Jesus.
The path that we are called to follow is a path on which we engage ourselves, the other, and God in the way of invitation. We encounter others with the patience and space of one who fishes. We find the places where others gather who need healing, reconciliation, and new life. We calmly engage, calmly throwing the net to see what we might catch. We go out into the “sea,” the places where we live, work, and play day after day to fish with Jesus for people.
This Lenten season, pay attention. God will never force but is constantly inviting. Constantly calling us to be in relationship with our true self, with the other, and with God. You, too, are being called into a new journey, no longer alone but in relationship with the other, fishing for people, sharing the one who called you.
Breath Prayer:
Speak, Lord, . . . and help me hear your call.
Tuesday, March 12
As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
—Luke 5:11
There is so much left to do. The to-do list is constantly getting longer, our obligations piling up, and we can hardly hear God. As we said yesterday, God is always calling. Are we listening.
One of the common questions from people in the church is about how to discern God’s voice. I think there is a natural hunger in us for God, for the transcendent, for the divine. Often we fill that hunger with many other things. It is easier to work, easier to fill our lives with other gods, easier to give our life to that which we are used to—to the comforts of home.
No wonder so many of us would rather ignore the call! What happens if we listen? What might God tell us? If we follow, what do we have to leave behind? I hate to break it to you, but when we follow, we must leave behind everything that would keep us from being fully present. Everything!
In the summer of 2017 I had the joy of spending eight days at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. I spent that week in silence, reflecting on Scripture, and taking long walks. Often in those walks I would hear God’s voice calling my name. Even in that environment my initial response was to ignore it, to stay busy walking, reading, or napping. A few days in, I found myself exhausted from fighting God’s voice. The word that flooded my soul? Surrender. This Lenten season, hear God’s voice inviting you to follow. It means leaving everything that would get in the way, but after all, that which holds us captive might not be worth keeping around.
Breath Prayer:
Lord, help me . . . surrender.
Wednesday, March 13
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”
—John 3:1-2
One of my favorite prayers for the morning says, “New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world,” found in The United Methodist Hymnal (The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989, page 877). I remember the first time I heard it thinking, “All day long?” It turns out that yes, all day long God is at work for good. God makes love possible, good possible, compassion possible, reconciliation possible, making God’s self known to us and to all of creation. The question is: Are we paying attention?
It is human nature to be doubtful and cynical. There is much in the world that does not match God’s intention for the world. We ourselves fail often and might feel unworthy. Our hearts become hardened by the stuff of life, by our own humanity with its fragility and frailty.
The journey of Lent is the journey of presence and discovery. As we pray, make room for God, and come alongside the neediest among us, we train our souls to see the miraculous signs that God is making known all around us. As we pay attention, our hunger grows to know God more, to ask more questions, to spend more time with Jesus. Today pay attention: Jesus is at work. Invite Jesus into conversation, always remembering that no matter what is happening around us, God spends all day long working for good in your life, in the life of your neighbor, and in the life of the world!
Breath Prayer:
All