First Sunday of Lent - St. David's Day
Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-9 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15
This past week I got a glimpse of what Lent is really about.Last Sunday and last Thursday, I heard two different men, say that while they love their wives, they are aware that in their busyness, they have not been the kind of husbands they want to be.So in the next few weeks, they have intentional plans to spend more time with their wives and demonstrate their love and appreciation for their wives in practical ways.
Those men understand the spirit of Lent.It is a time for us to begin again, to express our love for God and our neighbors in specific and tangible ways. I wonder…will God and our neighbors notice any difference in the way you and I love them during this Lent.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus shows us a way to increase our love for God and our neighbor.We don’t begin by trying harder to discipline our selves, push ourselves, and will ourselves to be more loving.We begin by listening to God say to us what God said to Jesus at his baptism: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
As we begin this Lent, our best motivation flows from remembering how much God loves each of us.As many of you know, Rebecca and I have a new grandson.You can’t hold a baby and not be filled with love for that little miracle of life.Now babies cry, they wake their parents up during the night and want to eat.They need their messy diapers changed.Babies can be very demanding, but we can’t help loving them.
Like little babies, all of us have our own quirks.None of us are perfect.But just as we can’t help loving messy babies…so God can’t help loving us, calling us his beloved sons and daughters…even though our lives are often messy and imperfect.
As we grow up, we hear parents and teachers, our peers, our bosses and people we deal with…constantly telling us how imperfect we are.We are often more critical of ourselves than other people are.But today, Jesus invites us all to remember…God calls each of us his beloved children.He sees our imperfections and still says…I love you and I’m very pleased that I created you.
Let’s close our eyes for a moment.In this moment of silence, hear God call you by name…and say, “You are my Beloved son, my Beloved daughter.I’m pleased that I created you.I love you right now, just the way you are, with all your imperfections.” Let the warmth of God’s love surround you for a few moments…Amen.
When we know how much God loves us, with all our imperfections…then we naturally want to express our love back to God, in response to God’s love for us.And when we know how patient God is with us and all our faults…it is easier for us to be patient and loving with others and their faults.The best way to increase our love for God and our neighbors…is to be aware of how much God loves us and how patient God is with us.We love, because God first loves us.
In the Gospel - after pouring love and affirmation on Jesus, the Spirit of God immediately drove him out into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by Satan.
Do you find that you live a lot of your life in a wilderness? The wilderness in Israel is dry, isolating, barren land, filled with dangers.Every day, we live in a world filled with challenges, dangers and temptations.We live in the wilderness of national and global financial instability. We live in a world of violence in our cities and homes…as well as a world filled with violent wars and conflicts.We live in a world threatened by global warming.We live in a world where other drivers cut us off on the road almost every day.We live in a society where people say cruel things to each other and make unrealistic demands on each other.We have so many things we can do, so many places we can go, that we race too quickly through life, trying to cram too many things into each day...exhausting ourselves and closing us off from positive relationships with other people.
We live in a wilderness time and place.How does God invite us to live amid the temptations and challenges of the wilderness?
On Friday, a businessman told me that this Lent, he has decided to give up worry.He can’t change what is happening in our economy. So he is going to trust God, and whenever he begins to worry, he’s going to let it go, send worries back to God, and focus on living in God’s presence, grateful that he can trust God to guide him through all things.He said this practice was already making a difference in his life.
In the wilderness of your life, what will you let go of so that you can trust God more, and live in God’s loving presence, instead of living in anxiety and fear? Some people give up watching TV during Lent.Some people take intentional time for prayer each morning or before going to bed…so that they can increase their loving connection with God.Others get involved in a Lenten study course or read the Bible for a few moments each day, so that they can increase their knowledge and love for God and neighbor.Others look for opportunities during the flow of each day to encourage or help other people.
A man who works in a grocery store told me that he intentionally looks for three people in the store each day who look burdened, and he says to them, God bless you today.
In the wilderness of your life, what will you let go of…and what will you start doing…to tangibly increase your love for God and your neighbors?
Mark tells us that while Jesus was in the wilderness, he was with the wild beasts and angels waited on him.As you and I live in the wilderness of our lives this Lent, we will meet some wild beasts.Can you name situations which are like wild beasts threatening your life?
God also sends angels to encourage, support and help us.Can you name the persons, the situations through which God’s angels support you and help you at this season of your life?
I invite you to experiment this week with a spiritual practice which has been helpful to Christians for centuries…and which I find very helpful in my life.At the end of each day, take a few moments to sit in a quiet place.First, take a deep breath and be aware that God loves you and is with you, surrounding you with love.Then ask God to help you reflect back over the day.First, think of all the experiences for which you are most thankful, the moments when God sent angels or people or situations that were life giving and positive.Thank God for was best in the past day.
Then, be aware of the things for which you are least thankful in the past day.Be aware of the wild beasts, the greatest frustrations, the painful moments of the day.Ask God to heal your wounds, to forgive your failures, to guide you in the midst of challenges you face.
Then, ask God to help you let go of the day, and help you rest in God’s healing love as you sleep…so that you will be ready to walk with God through the new day that will come in the morning.
This practice of a daily review with God…can help us to stay aware of both the blessings God gives us each day… and the challenges which drain us each day.Just to be aware of both sides, the angels and the beasts, helps us stay balanced and aware that God is with us, helping us each day in more ways than we normally recognize.
Let’s close our eyes, and experiment with this practice of a daily review with God.
First, take a deep breath, and be aware of God surrounding you with the warmth of his love.
Now, ask God to help you think back over yesterday.What are a couple of moments or people or situations you most thankful for about yesterday? In the silence of your heart - thank God for what was best about yesterday.
Now…what experiences or decisions or are you least thankful for about yesterday?
Invite God’s healing into those situations…
Now let go of yesterday…and ask God to help you live today, looking for specific ways to love God and your neighbors before you go to bed tonight.
Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things we pray: To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, Day by Day…this coming week, through the help of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.