Lenten Devotions 2010

Galatians 2:19b-20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

What joy!  The Son of God… loved me and gave himself for me!  Yes, He loves everyone, gave Himself for everyone, but even if I were the only one, He would have gladly gone to Calvary.  In the end even I, a lover of words, freely admit that prose cannot capture God’s love for me or mine for God.  Poetry comes closer to that goal. Here is my favorite resurrection poem of all, by Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins:

…Away grief’s gasping, joyless days, dejection.
Across my foundering deck shone
A beacon, an eternal beam.  Flesh fade, and mortal trash
Fall to the residuary worm; world’s wildfire, leave but ash:
In a flash, at a trumpet crash,
I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal
diamond,
Is immortal diamond.
(from “That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”)

Let us pray.  Dear Father in heaven, the Word is Your gift to us: the printed and the preached Word, but above all Your incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus.  Bless all the words dedicated to You in these on-line Lenten devotions, 2010.  May they bring forth a harvest of goodness in Your children’s lives, now and in time to come.  Bless both writers and readers, that we lead our lives in such a way that it may truly be said of us, “They are Easter people, and alleluia is their song.”  In the precious name of the crucified and risen One, our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit we pray.  Amen

Pastor Mary Virginia Farnham

bluiris27@msn.com

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1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

While running on the boardwalk in the dark, I can see that huge illuminated cross on the top of the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, and it always puts a smile on my face. In spite of all the madness in the world surrounding it – there it sits to say “follow me – I love you and I’ll get you home.”

There is a story about Joe McGill, who was studying the Gospel of John: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”  While he was reading this, he heard a voice say, “Yes, the word became flesh. I chose to enter into your broken world and limp along with you.”

The story comes from “The Victorious Limp” by Brennan Manning. Jesus doesn’t expect us to stroll up to the gates of heaven with body and soul unscathed, but rather waits for us to arrive with the victorious limp. Jesus himself suffered at the hands of this cruel world, and knows how hard it is to follow the Gospel. He, too, was tempted by Satan to reject things holy and chase the values of the world.

While we are here on earth, we will do battle with sickness, rejection, poverty, and abuse. We will be tempted to be unfaithful, self-indulgent and proud, but God will forgive us if we keep our focus on the cross. Jesus never promised us that our lives would be easy, but only that He will be with us through it all, and that someday, we will share in a much better life in a much better place.

“On the last day, when we arrive at the Great Cabin in the Sky, many of us will be bloodied, battered, bruised, and limping. But by God and by Christ, there will be a light in the window and a “Welcome Home” sign on the door. “           Brennan Manning

Lord, thank you for dying on the cross to save me. Keep me focused on things that matter. Amen.

Susan Ardito.

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John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We have been sent a Gift that was painstakingly created, 33 years in the making.  Wrapped up and shipped in a beautiful white cloth, adorned with palm branches, perfumed with nard it has been dropped and kicked and smashed to pieces. All the wrapping has been ripped off by the delivery men. Little did they realize that the Gift was sent to them too. We were given a Gift that was all but discarded- how could anything so broken be so precious? The Maker tells us if we return it to Him he can repair it and it should be as good as new in three days. If only we believe in Him.

Dear Lord - thank you for sharing Your Son and Your story for thousands of years. May it continue to inspire us every day! Amen

Denise Clayton

click for event-www.eventbrite.com/event/586641661?ref=ecal

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John 13:34
A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Love.  It’s one of the most basic human emotions and one of the most central parts of our faith - God loves us, we love God, we love each other, etc.

With it being so important, it’s not always that easy.  First, what does He mean, “as I have loved you”?  We know it’ll never be possible to match that kind of love, be we are supposed to try anyway.

And He means everybody?  It’s easy for me to love my parents, my brother, my friends.  But what about the kid who steals onions and cheese from my fridge (even if I know it’s to feed her hungry younger sisters)?  Or the resident crazy man in my village who drunkenly sings “Cecelia” and various Bob Marley tunes on my front steps at all hours of the night (because he knows I, unlike everyone else, will not beat him with a belt in the street)?  Or the co-worker who makes you look bad in front of your boss (even if it’s out of insecurity and your boss knows you do good work)?  Or the benny who cuts you off around the Manasquan circle (even though there’s a yield sign there)?

But loving these people, who at times annoy us and even sometimes seem unlovable, is what sets us apart from the rest as believers in God.  Loving them is the first step towards putting our faith into action.  Let’s pray for these people and love them instead of reacting with gossip and road rage.

God, thank You for loving me in my imperfection.  Fill me with strength to love all Your children.  Use me as an instrument of Your infinite love daily.  Amen.

Alicia Dodds

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Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

As I clutched the palms this past Sunday morning, I thought about the joy they represent as Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly.  Before the week was out, the apostles found themselves trapped in “Good Friday hopelessness”, no light at the end of this tunnel. It saddens me to think about the many in this world today that are locked in a perpetual state of such Good Friday hopelessness, some on other continents, but a few right in my circle of family and friends.

Our Easter morning surprise renews us with a lasting hope in the knowledge that our God can indeed do the impossible.  How blessed we are to be His Easter people!  Light your candles and ring your bells for all they are worth!  Make Holy Noise to celebrate! Long after the Easter decorations are packed away for another year, the hope lives on.  Our God will continue to do the impossible.  There will be always light at the end of our dark tunnels. The joy is irrevocable and what more do we need to be patient in our affliction?  We can have no affliction that is eternal.  Our gift of hope in Christ Jesus, however, will sustain us in this life and carry us into eternity.

It’s more than enough to keep me on my knees in prayerful gratitude for the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus.

Heavenly Father,
I rejoice in your powerful gift of hope that is mine through Christ Jesus, which sustains me through every affliction.  My grateful heart prays that you would help me to share that gift every day with someone who is locked in Good Friday hopelessness.  Let me bring your light to their dark tunnel, that they too may know the joy of your eternal love.  Amen.

Linda S. Magill
lindabythesea@yahoo.com

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Acts 4:27-31
For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. When they had prayed the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.  

Earlier in Acts (chapter 3) St. Luke introduced us to yet another anonymous, broken person, the latest but not the last in a long line of losers touched by the Gospel.  This particular man had never learned to walk, but he had learned to beg.  He was blessed with friends (or at least acquaintances) who ferried him daily to the Beautiful Gate of the temple, where he waylaid worshipers for alms.  A good day meant a good take.  He wasn’t looking for miracles, just money.

Peter and John noticed the person behind the outstretched hand.  “Look at us,” Peter said. The man was expectant, but of the wrong thing.  Imagine his surprise when Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” (Acts 3.6)  He did that and more: “Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3.8)

That deed of power landed Peter and John in the custody of the temple police, and won them an audience with the high priests and the Council.  “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (Acts 4.7)  When Peter and John answered, “Jesus’!” the Council issued a gag order “and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4.18)  What’s your guess? Did that shut Peter and John up??

Read the opening verses again.  The community prays: “… grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Peter and John were not alone in their ministry of outreach, evangelism, healing.  They had the people of the community, the prayer of the community, the power of the community behind them.  So do we.  I recently heard someone say, “If you don’t encounter the Lord in the pew (among the people), you’re not apt to encounter Him in the Bread and Wine either.”  Then again, “Nothing will be impossible for God.”  We do believe and teach, though, that the Lord also chooses to become incarnate in and through the family of faith.  That family’s prayers change things: for individuals, for communities, for the world.

Let us pray.  Dear Father in heaven, You choose the community of faith as Your favorite grace place.  This Holy Week we’re blessed to spend more-than-usual amounts of time with each other.  May our gathering  as the Body of Christ glorify You and strengthen us in faith.  May the mystery of Your divine love compel us at least as much as it perplexes us.  Send us forth to serve in love and power.  Amen

Pastor Mary Virginia Farnham

bluiris27@msn.com

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1 Timothy 6:11-12
But you Man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

My mother was born 94 years ago in Norway.  Her mother died when she was six years old and her life with her father and two brothers on a small farm was hard.  She married and had a daughter but divorced her husband when she discovered he had married someone else while still married to her.  He went to jail and she was left to raise Bodil, my half sister, by herself.  During this time Germany occupied Norway and life became even harder.  Bodil contracted Diphtheria and died in my mother’s arms in a hospital.  As there was no other transportation, my mother had to take her dead daughter home in a cab for burial.

She met my father years later and gave birth to me and then my brother.  My father came to the United States ahead of us in 1952 and we followed in October of that year. It took two weeks to cross the stormy Atlantic and my mother was seasick the entire trip.  We could not speak any English.  I was lucky to begin school immediately and had no difficulty learning a second language, but my mother had a tough time. She had left all her family and friends and moved to a new country far away where all was foreign to her.

She had no use for religion or church.  I feel she thought God had abandoned her because of all the hardships she had had to endure.  I would attend church or Sunday School with my friends and eventually I found a Lutheran church that I attended regularly and made my Confirmation there. My parents only attended church on the day of my Confirmation and again on the day I married Paul.

In her 80s my mother became religious.  What an amazing metamorphosis.  She has become an ardent prayer.  She offers daily intercessions to God for her family, friends, neighbors, ills of the world, troubles of the country, weather, and anything else she needs to ask God to set right.  She prays many times during the day.  She lives with us now as she is unable to live alone and attends adult Sunday School and church with us regularly.  She has fled from all her sad past, made her good confession to God and continues to “fight the good fight” at the ripe age of 94.

Dear God, during this Lenten season, help us “fight the good fight” while evil forces try to veer us off course. Thank you for finding your lost sheep and bringing them back to Your fold.  Thank you for sending Your Son to die for our sins so we may have eternal life with you.  Amen

Rae Starke
raestarke1234@aol.com

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James 2:15-17
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Who is your brother or sister?  This is a question I hear our Sunday School teachers asking their classes.  In the safety and security of our warm, usually dry, classrooms we tell them that God loves ‘all the little children’.  We give them examples how God poured his love into us in the form of Jesus.  We also tell them that as disciples of Christ we too need to go out and do what Jesus did for us. How do we transform the faith we plan in our children and get them to move to action?????  Certainly there is an abundance of inspiration at Holy Trinity, just look on the stage in Fellowship Hall and you’ll see the action orchestrated by Barbara Vogel to collect items for earthquake victims in Haiti.

Our confirmands are required to give nine hours of service for each of the two years they’re in the program.  We give them ideas how they can serve, but the opportunities really are endless.  We hope that their faith in action will show them that they can make a difference.  Some get the concept right away!  They see that by changing the sign on Main Street they spread the message and let people know what God is doing inside of our church.  Some kids give their gift of music by singing or playing an instrument.  They realize that this action is the inspiration for the prayers of the congregation.  These are living actions for us at Holy Trinity, but how do we teach them that their brothers and sisters are everywhere in the world?

On April 10th about 20 of our youth will travel up to Southridge Community Church in Clinton New Jersey.  The title of the event is “Feed the Need” and the program is coordinated by an organization called Feed My Starving Children.  Sure the kids will get service hours for packing food, but they will also receive an education about where the food they pack will go and who it will help.  They will learn about their worldly brothers and sisters.  I hope and pray that this will be the greatest gift they will receive.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for always being with us.  I thank you for the inspiration that comes in prayer to move our faith into action, Amen

To learn more about Feed My Starving take a look at this promotional video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IaM-Urdz6E&NR=1

Peace,

JJ Keelan
mary.keelan@yahoo.com

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Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

When I was young, my mother christened me and brought me into the church, told me about God and sent me to catechism to learn the practices of the Catholic Church. I believed because my mother told me it was true.

As I became older I started to question my faith as many of our teens do- when they are questioning the many things about the world around them.

When I became an adult and mother I returned to the church and began the time of teaching my own child about God. At that time I learned more than I taught. I remember specifically when the Holy Spirit came upon me (not quite as dramatically as with the people in Acts). It was during a Lenten Holy week service, 22 years ago- I was sitting in the church and was so overcome with awe and love that if I had been able to speak, I might have started to babble like the people at the beginning of Acts 2.

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Sometimes when you least expect it, something amazing will happen to you. You just need to be still and listen.

Lent is a tine for us to refocus our spiritual life, a time to quiet our minds and simplify our lives. Prayer provides the quiet, fasting helps us to simplify, giving of ourselves or from our possessions helps us to appreciate all that we have that are gifts from God. Easter helps us to focus on God’s true gift of salvation through His son, Jesus.

25David said about him:
” ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

Dear Lord- send your holy spirit into us all this Lenten Holy week. Let us be still and listen for your voice as we rejoice with the people on Palm Sunday as you triumphantly come into the city and betray you on Holy Thursday and morn as you are tortured and crucified on Good Friday. We will await our time to rejoice when you find eternal life on Easter! Amen.

Denise Clayton

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1 Timothy 6: 10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Very few people really love money itself. Mostly, folks love what money can buy, whether it be material things, influence, or other human beings. Money, in and of itself, is just a string of numbers in an account. It is nothing but a thick roll of colored paper or stack of coins.

In Silas Marner, the 19th century novel by George Eliot, the protagonist, after a false accusation, becomes a recluse and miser, spending his evenings counting stacks of gold coins. The miser’s love of the coins themselves is all consuming and repugnant. A thief then enters his home, steals his hoard of gold, and leaves Silas in despair. A golden haired orphan, after her own tragedy, enters the miser’s cottage and replaces his metallic treasure with one of flesh and blood. The little orphan enriches Silas’ life just as the golden coins impoverished it.

God wants us to turn away from the temptations, the false treasures, with which the Adversary fills this world. God wants us to turn towards the promise made flesh in Palestine two thousand Lents ago. God wants us to have Faith and to Believe in the Word that dwelled among us for a time.

O Lord,
Let me not wander away from your Word
Let me hear your call and be drawn to you
Let me live a life in service to your created world and be
Bewitched by neither golden idols nor stacks of golden coins
Keep me from the temptations of the Deceiver and his minions
Let me build up your church and her ministries
Let me love what is real
Amen

Dennis Blazak

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