Lent Day 30 March 27, 2012

Lenten Reflection for Day 30

Date: March 27, 2012

Author: Richard Day

Bible Passage: Romans 7:18–21 (NRSV)

¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.

Reflection:

This passage talks about the forces of good and evil in this world. Particularly, the battle within each one of us of wanting to do what we know is right and good but often failing and, instead, doing what we know is wrong and even evil.

Every one of us can relate to instances of this classic battle in our own lives. The bible is full of these battles. In fact the first one happened in the very beginning of the bible. Adam and Eve were living the good life in the Garden of Eden. But then Satan, in the form of a serpent, got them to do what they knew they shouldn’t do (i.e. eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and the battle between good and evil was engaged.

When I first read today’s bible passage, the words that really struck me were ”when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.” It’s as if the devil is always lurking to counteract anything that is right or good. This was certainly the case in the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. It was also the case when God sent his Son into the world.

Jesus was the embodiment of the greatest good this world has ever known. But, even at Jesus’ birth, evil was lying “close at hand”. Upon hearing of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Herod ordered the slaughter of all the male infants in the town in the hopes of killing Jesus. Later in Jesus’ life, after He was baptized in the Jordan River and “the Spirit of God descended like a dove on Him”, He went into the desert where the devil was once again lurking. During those forty days and nights in the wilderness the devil relentlessly tempted Jesus to disavow good and to worship him. But Jesus said “Away from me, Satan.” Finally, in Jerusalem, the forces of evil working through Judas Iscariot, the chief priests, elders, and the crowd yelling “Crucify Him!” put Jesus to death on the cross.

But good would not be overcome by evil. Jesus’ resurrection is the victory of life over death and good over evil. Thanks be to God.

Prayer:

Lord, God, prepare us for those times when we are confronted with the decision to do what we know is right and good, but the lurking forces of evil are giving us convenient reasons to do what we know is wrong and evil. Give us the strength and conviction to be like Jesus and say “Away from me, Satan!” Amen.

Lent Day 13--March 7, 2012

Lenten Reflection for Day 13

Date: March 7, 2012

Author: Elaine Day

Bible Passage: Jeremiah 2:23–25 (NRSV)

²³ How can you say, “I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals”? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restive young camel interlacing her tracks, ²⁴ a wild ass at home in the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her. ²⁵ Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, “It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.”

Reflection:

I found the following translation of Jeremiah 2:23-25 from the Good News Bible a little easier to understand

“How can you say you have not defiled yourself, that you have never worshipped Baal? Look how you sinned in the valley; see what you have done. You are like a wild camel in heat, running around loose, rushing into the desert. When she is in heat, who can control her? No male that wants her has to trouble himself; she is always available in mating season. Israel, don’t wear your feet out, or let your throat become dry from chasing other gods. But you say, ‘No! I can’t turn back. I have loved foreign gods and will go after them.’”

Jeremiah has been chosen by God to tell the people of Israel that they will be punished because even after all that God did for them, the Israelites turned from God and worshipped idols. In the above verses, Jeremiah conveys how easily the people turned from God through the use of the carnal image of camels in heat. The tone of this passage clearly shows God’s disappointment and displeasure. The flesh is indeed weak and we are easily led astray.

I am reminded of these words from a song: “Modern times have brought us many comforts. People live in wealth and luxury. But the Master still asks this question, ‘Lovest thou me, more than these?’’ Does a desire for wealth and fame lead us astray? Will we be able to turn away from these “foreign gods” that have such an allure for us?

Prayer:

With God’s help, I pray that I will be able to turn away from temptation and respond to the question posed above, with the rest of the words of the song, “Oh, precious Lord, I love you more than all of these; more than fame, more than wealth, more than the world.”