Flowing (Lent A3)

It is interesting that "living water" was used almost exclusively for water that flowed. No metaphysical attachment could be expected by the woman at the well.

As a metaphor for The Spirit, the image of flowing water is crisp. Bubbling, refreshing, overflowing, unending.

We Pentecostals sometimes forget to stand in awe of this truth. We see something like speaking in tongues as the evidence we are filled with this living water. It is all too easy to dry up while still remembering the syllables and sounds of a heavenly language. Filling is no one-time act, but rather like a flowing river or spring replenishes constantly so we should be receiving from the Spirit.

Flow River Flow!

living water (Lent A3)

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.

The Jews worship what they know. They saw the mighty hand of God and still rebelled, they tasted the water he gave and still thirsted. In comes Jesus offering a living water. The Rock of our salvation gives water that satisfies and reconciles a people who test and try. He knows everything I ever did, could he be the Christ? Could he still reconcile me? While we were still the sinners he knows us to be, while we were still a people who test and try, he died for us.

Lord keep my heart soft to your voice, and refreshed by your water.

Promises and Spirit (Lent A2)

Abraham received a promise and believed. "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him." He is a God of promises. Perhaps we see the promises of God so plainly because his word is always true. For he does not need to attach an "I promise" for the force of those words to apply. It is the veracity of truth in his every word that causes us to hide in his shadow and declare I promise.

He declares that he is our keeper. As we gaze at the Word that is true, knowing that he does not lie, we are saved. Father Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, and in the same way, the God of promises expects us to take him at his word.

Jesus affirms this to Nicodemus.
"Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."
Earthly sons of Abraham have no part in the kingdom except that they be born from above, spiritual sons.

This passage from John is rich and poetic.
"The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Lord may we experience the breath of your Sprit. Remind us of the mystery of our own re-birth and give light to our wilderness.

Catholic First - Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

"Third Rule. The third: With cause, as well the good Angel as the bad can console the soul, for contrary ends: the good Angel for the profit of the soul, that it may grow and rise from good to better, and the evil Angel, for the contrary, and later on to draw it to his damnable intention and wickedness."

In this the rythem of consolation and desolation seen in the psalm and Jesus being driven into the wilderness meets the theme of temptation and sin head on. While desolation is a tool of God, where he hides himself from us, a tool that we all expereince even second Adam, it is part and parcel to temptation.

I don't think that it is only about testing and trying, but the temptation surely comes when we are in the wilderness of desolation.

Ivan Kramskoy: Christ in the Wilderness

CGFA- Ivan Kramskoy: Christ in the Wilderness

What does baptism make you do?

Am I afraid that my baptism in the name of the Christ, or baptism in the Spirit of God will force me out into the wilderness? Why do I sit comfortable in my office writing this? Lord let these weeks to Easter be a time for seeking your face and the fulness of your spirit in my life and church!

The Dark Night (Lent A1)

This week's texts read like the points of a sermon already. From temptation and the first sin to the promise of forgiveness to second Adam and his temptation. What a rich sequence.

I am learning about lent. All I knew growing up was from the perspective of a church that does not observe lent. The concept of entering 40 days in the wilderness with Christ catches my attention. We prepare for the joy of the resurrection with a time of physical and spiritual desolation. We examine our hearts through the lens of the darkness of our human situation. Perhaps we may even experience the dark night of the soul.

This is where we begin.

3 2:1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
32:3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Selah-stop and meditate on this. Happiness contrasted with the wasting, groaning, heaviness of God's hand. This is also grace, in the middle of the dark night.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Selah-you forgave me. Lord help me to be faithful to you and your people as I lead us into a time of meditation and reflection, that we may see through the darkness the presence of your hand and the hope of salvation.