March 20, 2011: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9
Psalm 121: A Song of Ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.
Matthew 17:1-9: 17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’
Second Sunday in Lent Comment: This account of Jesus with the disciples on a ‘hill’, truly took them out of their comfort zones. Peter’s reaction was to put Jesus on equal par with Moses and Elijah, denying Jesus’ unique identity. God responded to this mindset with the words, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased…!” In other words, he is himself!
Dear Reader: Do you see yourself as a ‘one and only’? Do you believe God created you with personality and talents specifically yours and then broke the mold? Which comment have you heard the most: You remind me of so and so…! Or, I am amazed by the distinctive gifts you bring to us!
I would like to share with you these practical suggestions from a devotion that I read:
The next time you pass a mirror, look at it and say, “I know it’s true: There is only one you!”
Pray: Jesus, thanks for loving me just the way I am. I am blessed. Amen
During Lent church tradition encourages us to reflect on those areas where we fall short in our relationship with God. This is good because in the end we are freed up to chant the lyrics from a song written by Velma Frye, “I will believe the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is!”
Lenten Blessings,
Rev. Julia
©March 18, 2011