Lent 2017: Day Eighteen
Week Three: Mission Field
Reflection for the Week: What encourages me to engage more fully in the mission field?
OK, so this is a kinda weird text. It starts out alright with the announcement of the Lord God Almighty reigning over all creation, but what is with a lamb getting married? How does that imagery work for you?
This is one you have to unpack a bit. Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament the relationship of God to Israel or Christ to the Church is couched in the metaphor of a marriage covenant. (Isa. 54:5-6, Ezek. 16:6-14, Matt. 25:1-13, 22:1-14). As anyone knows, the wedding feast is the great moment when the families and guests all get to celebrate with great joy the promise of hope and life that begins in the uniting of two who love each other so much they are willing to commit their entire lives to each other. Done right, the wedding day is one of unique and complete joy. There is a presence of love and promise there that is not present in other gatherings.
The early church leaders wanted the members of the new Christian community to feel that same sense of loving presence in every worship celebration. Every time the believers gathered to worship God, they were called to open their hearts to the loving, life-changing presence of God in the Holy Spirit that moves in and through worship.
Recall that the season of Lent is 40 days long, but Sundays are not counted in that because they are considered “Little Easters.” Sunday is the day of wonder and resurrection. Sunday in worship we reenter the covenant with God.
Have you really been worshipping lately? Have you been eagerly anticipating that the one who loves you more than anyone else is going to meet you there for a special celebration? Have you opened your heart with deep thanksgiving for all God has provided? Have you come ready for a time of joy and new hope?
Worship is a time to reaffirm our covenant vow with God to love and cherish one another all the days of our lives. Next time you come to worship, be sure you come to worship.
Prayer: God of love and life, may I open to your presence and be filled by your Spirit. Amen.
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Day Seventeen: Cal-Pac's Daily Lenten Devotionals for Friday, 17 March 2017 from The California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California, United States "I broke my arm in kindergarten ..."
Lent 2017: Day Seventeen
Week Three: Mission Field
Reflection for the Week: What encourages me to engage more fully in the mission field?
I broke my arm in kindergarten. Actually, my brother Tim did it, but that is another story. The doctor put a plaster cast on the arm that was rather heavy. I carried that thing around for weeks. Finally, the day came to have the cast “sawed off.” That didn’t sound good to me. But, everything went OK.
I remember the moment when that heavy cast was removed. My arm felt so light that it seemed to just float up from my lap unbidden. It was a joyful feeling to be freed from that thing. It is always a good feeling to be freed from things that constrain us or weigh us down. Maybe that is why I love that moment when the shoes come off at the end of the day. Why is it our spirits seem to naturally long for freedom?
I believe in part it is related to what Paul is saying in the text above. The life that we carry in these mortal bodies is of the Spirit. But, Spirit is something free and moving, like breath or wind, breathing in and out or blowing through. Spirit resists limitation or containment.
The story of Christ being raised from the dead is the ultimate story of freedom. In this story the Spirit frees us from the final constraint -- death itself. Looking back from that reality we then see the other constraints put on people and know they too must be removed. Some people are wrapped in a confining cast of addiction or abuse that keeps their spirits from being free. Some are imprisoned unjustly, others trapped in a cycle of poverty. For a people who live in the day of resurrection, there are far too many still entombed.
Those of us who claim freedom in Christ must remember the line from the song by Solomon Burke “None of us are free, if one of us are chained.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, your Spirit frees me. May I use that freedom to free those still chained. Amen.
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Rev. John Farley
Dean of Cabinet
California-Pacific Conference
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Dean of Cabinet
California-Pacific Conference
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Inspiring the world as passionate followers of Jesus Christ so all may experience God's life-giving love...Copyright © 2017 The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
110 South Euclid Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101, United States
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"Do One Thing this 2nd Week of Lent" for Friday, 17 March 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
FRIDAY, March 17, 2017
Do One Thing for Friends*
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Copyright © 2017 The Upper Room, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
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"Do One Thing this 2nd Week of Lent" for Friday, 17 March 2017 from The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
FRIDAY, March 17, 2017
Do One Thing for Friends*
- Help a friend with one of his or her chores.
- Give a sincere compliment to a different friend each day.
- Let a friend take the first turn or choose what to do when you’re hanging out together.
- Pray for a friend who has an important event (a big test, a game, a tryout, or a performance, etc.) coming up.
- Pray for The United Methodist Church and our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
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Copyright © 2017 The Upper Room, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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