"Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart as you did at Meribah."

The word "Meribah" literally means place of rebellion, strife or contention. As I have contemplated my Christian life during the Lenten season and tried to prepare my heart for Easter, this scripture has called me to evaluate how rebellion plays a part in my own life.

Psalm 102:1 Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.

1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

The prevailing themes in these readings are painful, pointing out the shortcomings, weaknesses, and diminishing of God’s people; their weeping, suffering, and agony; pleas for relief from enemies; betrayals by allies. There is great lament.

What are the responses to this suffering? In Lamentations, the plea is for God to punish our enemies. In Psalm 6, the request is for God to pardon us, heal us, and deliver us. In Psalm 12, the hope is for safety and protection. In 2nd Corinthians, the strategy is to rely on God’s deliverance. In Mark, Jesus urges us to simply trust Him.

What is the belief and hope in God? We trust that God hears and knows our needs; that He will protect us and deliver us from adversity, or where adversity exists, to help us cope and overcome it. God has made a commitment to us. We need to acknowledge that commitment and make one of our own: to admit Him into our lives and acknowledge His authority. Although we are tempted to want revenge on those who mistreat us, or to beg God not to afflict us with dreadful circumstances, our trust needs to be in God…that He will provide justice and mercy for us all…for those who labor for God and even for those who threaten us…for God is God of all.

Questions provoked by these readings, as they apply to ourselves today: What are my own sources of pain, affliction, sense of mistreatment, or worry? Who is responsible for resolving them? Are any of these under my influence or control? What should I ask God for? What are my personal commitments?

When asked to write a Lenten meditation, I focused my thoughts on Psalm 51:10-12: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." And then verse 17: "My sacrifice O God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Verse 3: "For I know my transgressions; and my sin is always before me." Once you've decided to "give up" something, isn't it just right there all the time, forcing you to confront your demons? We really do have only three Starbucks in Murfreesboro, but it may seem like more if you've given up lattes for Lent! I also add a spiritual practice to my day, perhaps an additional devotion or praying the rosary. It suddenly seems difficult to find 15 minutes. The sacrifices I make need to be intentional and so does the discipline required to affect the change I seek.

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.” The “Many” in this statement - to me - directly represents the followers that have come with Christ on His journey to Jerusalem through Jericho. It is strange to think that followers of Christ, whom Bartimaeus is calling on for help, are attempting to quiet him. Would followers just ignore the pleas of others in order to continue on their journey with Christ?Christ then, as He does throughout His life, led by example. “Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him'” and His followers brought him forward. Funny how quickly they are ready to assist the needy once they see it is in the interest of Jesus. Then of course Jesus asked of Bartimaeus what he wanted, “Rabbi, I want to see” and after Bartimaeus could see, due to his faith in Christ, he followed him along the road.

“Come, let us praise the Lord! Let us sing for joy to God, who protects us! Let us come before him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise...” (Psalm 95)

Many of you are probably familiar with John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.” I would like to quote a part of it:

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

Psalm 133 says, “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” ‘Imagine’ shows how simple it can be for people to live together in peace and unity. “Imagine no possessions” in life today. Many people tend to get caught up in the material objects and forget about what it really takes to live in peace with one another. Living with one another in peace takes simple things like patience, compassion, living as who we really are, not who society wants us to be, and of course God.

Psalm 119: 145-176; Exod. 7:8-24; 2 Cor. 2:14-3:6; Mark 10:1-16

In the excerpt from 2 Corinthians, Paul points to the ways in which Jesus’ sacrifice opens an entirely new relationship between God, God’s word and humanity: you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Mark 9:42-50

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where " 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'Everyone will be salted with fire. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Mark 9:35 "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

We, as believers, are the body of Christ. Similarly, our church is composed of many types of people from various backgrounds, all having different gifts and abilities. It is easy for these differences to divide people and communities, but despite these differences, all believers have one thing in common: faith in Christ. Through this essential truth, the church finds unity.

As I was going over the readings for this day, one of my favorite bible verses kept coming to mind. Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Such an encouraging message!

Do I really believe that God cares what happens to me today?

In Mark 8:2, Jesus tells us that he does care about the welfare of the people that followed him. If I consider myself a follower of Jesus, why then would I ever doubt that God cares what happens to me?

Even though I always try to do the next right thing, I often find myself in “remote places,” separated from God. When I stop and reflect on how I got there, it always comes back to me. I’m the one that moved in my relationship with God. When I’m in these “remote places,” the first person I turn to for help is me. I can fix it. I can solve it.

Sometimes I do fix the situation. But many times I can’t. When I get stuck in a corner, when I run out of options, when there is nowhere else to turn, that’s when I finally go to God for help. Not at first, but when I fail and can’t do it anymore. I’m glad that my God is patient with me and my stubbornness.

I believe that God does care about me on a daily basis. He cares so much that he lets me choose what I want to do. Today, I spend less time today trying to fix things on my own because I spend more time trying to live with God in my life on a daily basis.

Lent is my time to prepare for the promise of Easter. It is the time I ask myself if I’m living into my ideal of directing my life to God.

Do I really believe that God cares what happens to me today? Absolutely.

Genesis 49: 1-28

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God…” (Psalm 42:5)

I’m not talking about despair as in sadness or depression, but rather despair as a spiritual condition: as the sin of letting the weeds choke out the Word, of believing that all the flawed and broken things of this world are beyond God’s reach, beyond God’s power to heal and restore. Ultimately, despair is a lack of trust – a failure to believe in God’s glorious promises.

Psalm 119: 97-120; Gen. 45:16-28; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29

In Mark 6:22-27, King Herod had John the Baptist beheaded because of pressure he felt from family and friends. How many times are our actions due to outside pressure from peers or worldly actions? If we would stay focused on God’s path and follow His word, these outside pressures would not be so tempting to follow.

Psalm 78: 1-39; Gen. 45:1-15; 1 Cor. 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-13 The Mission of the Twelve

What kind of authority and power does God want us to exercise on his behalf? Jesus gave his apostles both the power and the authority to speak and to act in his name. He commanded them to do the works which he did - to cast out evil spirits, to heal, and to speak the word of God - the good news of the gospel which they received from Jesus.

When Jesus spoke of power and authority he did something unheard of. He wedded power and authority with love and humility. The “world” and the “flesh” seek power for selfish gain. Jesus teaches us to use it for the good of our neighbor. Why does Jesus tell the apostles to “travel light” with little or no provision? Poverty of spirit frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God's provision.

Jesus wants his disciples to be dependent on God and not on themselves. He wills to work through and in each of us for his glory. Are we prepared to handle the power and authority which God wants us to exercise on His behalf? He entrusts us with His gifts and talents. Are we eager to place ourselves at His service, to do whatever He bids for us, and to witness His truth and saving power to whomever He sends us?

Heavenly Father, make us a channel of your grace and healing love that others may find life and freedom in you. Free us from all other attachments that we may joyfully pursue the things of heaven. May we witness the joy of the gospel both in word and deed.

Psalm 80; Gen. 44:18-34; 1 Cor. 7:25-31; Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

However, Jesus feels a power, a healing power, flowing from the hem of his robe. He stops to look for the cause of this power. The woman who touched his robe trembled, as she is afraid she is in trouble. In fact, the woman KNEW she would be healed if she just touched his robe! Jesus tells her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Similarly, Jesus tells the father of the child, “Do not fear, only believe.” They continue on to the house where the child is and once there, Jesus heals the child.

Each and every one of us must have faith that our prayers will be answered. The word “prayer” really means “something wished for,” that is, wished of God. All that true prayer seeks is God Himself, for with Him we get all we need. Jesus said, “Have faith in God. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11: 22-24)

Prayer is simply “the turning of the soul to God.” David describes it as the lifting up of the living soul to the living God. “Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul” (Psalms 25: 1). What a beautiful description of prayer that is! When we desire Jesus to behold our souls, we also desire that the beauty of holiness may be upon us. When we lift up our souls to God in prayer it gives God an opportunity to do what He will, with us and in us. It is putting us at God’s disposal. God is always on our side; when man prays, it is God’s opportunity. The poet says:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Uttered or unexpressed,

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9: 23)

Psalm 75, 76; Gen. 43:16-34; 1 Cor. 7:10-24; Mark 5: 1-20

Mark 5: 1-20 Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

The demoniac lived his life among the dead. He was sad, hurting, lonely, longing, unwanted and unloved. His life was out of control. I know those feelings. I think that we have all felt the powerlessness of being in the grip of our own demons. I have my stories and you have yours. But running through all our stories is the way in which we are each, from time to time, awakened to the mysterious ways in which God sustains us in our powerlessness to sustain ourselves.

Faith ~ Reassurance ~ Comfort

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck…

I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.

My eyes fail, looking for my God.

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

“...even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

God walks with us through good times and bad. He is by our side. We can feel His comfort and reassurance through our faith.

Mark 4:21-34

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants…”

The familiar words of the parable of the mustard seed serve to remind me of the significance of my daily actions. I have been blessed to have two wonderful children. A few years ago for Father’s Day they wrote a poem for me which recounted a number of lessons that I had taught them.

None of the illustrations recalled seemed, in and of themselves, to be of any great significance. Yet they covered a range of subjects-fairness, fiscal responsibility, personal safety, environmental awareness, playfulness, etc.-that a father might teach his children. Standing alone these lessons, like the mustard seed, seemed insignificant.

Psalm 72; Genesis 42:18-20; I Corinthians 5:9 – 6:3; Mark 4:1-20

Psalm 61, 62; Gen. 42:1-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-8; Mark 3:19b-35

…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

It’s fitting that our lectionary’s gospel reading from Mark starts with this verse of only six words. The preceding two verses tell us of the other appointed apostles, and then in separation and isolation, the name of Judas.

The themes of betrayal, of separation and isolation run through today’s readings. These themes also run through our lives from time to time. As much as I want to think of myself responding as the second thief crucified next to Jesus did, I’m painfully aware that lurking around, in some measure, is that pesky first thief with his insulting challenges. I’m aware also that, given Paul’s exhortation of purity in today’s reading from Corinthians, that I’d still like a little yeast in my bread, thank you.

Psalm 56, 57; Gen. 41:46-57; 1 Cor. 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a

Not Blind Faith

Lord Jesus, help me to do the work you have prepared for me to do from the beginning of the world. Thank you. Amen