Lent Day 5 February 27

Lenten Reflection for Day 5

Date: February 27, 2012

Author: Carol Brudnicki

Bible Passage: Luke 10:25–29 (NRSV)

²⁵ Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” ²⁷ He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” ²⁹ But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Reflection:

Throughout Jesus teaching he summarizes the Laws passed down from Moses and the Prophet into two commandments – To love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. All other laws support these two.

We so often find it hard to put God first and love him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. We are distracted with having the latest or newest items. We put others ahead of God. We think of our needs or wants. Our hectic lives interfere with putting God first and foremost. Yet all things come from God and are his gifts to us. We need to start each morning with praise to God asking him to help us put God first and to ask for guidance for the day.

The commandment to Love your Neighbor is one of the hardest to follow. Our neighbor is everyone – They are similar and different from each of us. They are your brother, your friend, and the stranger. They are the person who cuts you off when driving, the one who gossips or spreads false information about you, and the person who would do anything for you. I am reminded of the bracelets that were common a few years ago with the initials WWJD on them. It was to remind the wearer to think “What Would Jesus Do” in all their actions and dealing with others. To Love your Neighbor is to treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated, as Jesus would do.

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you for all you have done for me and for all you have given me. Help me to relate to my neighbor in a loving and caring way. Guide me in seeing their needs and viewpoints.

Lent Day 5: March 14

This morning we welcome guest blogger, Phil Cronenwett. Phil shares his thoughts with us on "giving thanks to the Lord."

Lenten Reflection for Day 5

Date: Monday March 14, 2011

Author: Phil Cronenwett

Bible Passage:

Isaiah 12:1–4 (NRSV)

¹ You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. ² Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. ³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.

Reflection:

This passage is a wonderful song of praise and thanksgiving to God for His gifts of comfort, strength, and salvation. We sometimes have trouble thanking our friends and family for the good deeds they do for us. More than that, we often do not acknowledge God’s care for us. “Give thanks to the Lord” should be our acknowledgement that God has given us life and salvation. This passage is also a reflection of that portion of Psalm 116 that sometimes appears as a liturgical hymn:

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?

I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

This is what I should do, what I must do to thank God at all times.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to know and to do that which is right in Your sight. Help me to know Your will and to thank You for all of Your great works. Amen.