This is a place where we can read, reflect and respond to the traditional scriptures of Lent. Lent is the time where we are made low so that we can appreciate the height of the risen Christ.
I'm not sure if this is the best method to study Lenten verses, but I keep looking for a theme in the verses each day. Here I would say the theme is foolishness.
Joseph's dreams seem foolish - even offensive - to his family; Paul states that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; and John's lifestyle would seem weird at least to most people who knew him.
The upshot of all this - at least for me - is not that we should be living lives that make people outside the faith think, "My, but that's a stupid way to be living." The message of the cross is foolishness, because how is it anything but foolish that the Son of God himself should come to earth and die? How could anyone do anything more foolish than that? The President could give his State of the Union dress in a thong (go ahead and get a mental picture) and it wouldn't approach that level of utter nonsense in the world's economy.
What does this mean for us? I think that living selfless lives, giving sacrificially, investing in other people's hurts and needs seems pretty foolish from a worldly perspective. But that's exactly what we're called to be.
The theme seemed to me to be more about our individual callings. Joseph, Paul, and John were all called to do and be things that those around them (even their own families) could not envision or understand.
Often when God calls us to something it doesn't seem to make sense from a worldly perspective.
Christ's days in the desert after being baptized and then being acknowledged and encouraged by his Father seems to remind me that even though I am His child and may be following my calling I should still expect temptations and attacks from Satan.
I am with you Elliot. I am not sure that linking the scriptures is the best way to go either. I think that I have a curiosity as to why these 3 scriptures are grouped together though. What was the logic? Is there a link? Why out of the whole Bible would these lines be read on the same day?
At this point I have not read the final verse, or the comments, but unaffected by anything else, for fear of forgetting, I want to say that 1 Corinthians 1:18 is so comforting to me. I find myself so often trying to intellectually reconcile my beliefs. And I try to balance what I know, in the experiential way, to be true with what I know, in the mind way. And this verse in particular stands out to me to say ... "No, sometimes it doesn't make very much sense. But it's supposed to be that way. Remember what you have experienced and learned; remember what has been revealed to you, beyond intellect, and hold on to that. Trust that. Trust Christ, even when it seems total foolishness."
ha, that's funny, Dave. Good question--I've wondered the same thing. The fact that we'd question the "authority" or the "rationale" behind the choosing of the verses probably says something about our tradition...just not sure what. :) i'm guessing we would have had a hard time with Christianity PRE-reformation. ha ha
6 comments:
I'm not sure if this is the best method to study Lenten verses, but I keep looking for a theme in the verses each day. Here I would say the theme is foolishness.
Joseph's dreams seem foolish - even offensive - to his family; Paul states that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; and John's lifestyle would seem weird at least to most people who knew him.
The upshot of all this - at least for me - is not that we should be living lives that make people outside the faith think, "My, but that's a stupid way to be living." The message of the cross is foolishness, because how is it anything but foolish that the Son of God himself should come to earth and die? How could anyone do anything more foolish than that? The President could give his State of the Union dress in a thong (go ahead and get a mental picture) and it wouldn't approach that level of utter nonsense in the world's economy.
What does this mean for us? I think that living selfless lives, giving sacrificially, investing in other people's hurts and needs seems pretty foolish from a worldly perspective. But that's exactly what we're called to be.
I love you Son, but have fun in the desert with Satan... one of those weird biblical quirks...
The theme seemed to me to be more about our individual callings. Joseph, Paul, and John were all called to do and be things that those around them (even their own families) could not envision or understand.
Often when God calls us to something it doesn't seem to make sense from a worldly perspective.
Christ's days in the desert after being baptized and then being acknowledged and encouraged by his Father seems to remind me that even though I am His child and may be following my calling I should still expect temptations and attacks from Satan.
I am with you Elliot. I am not sure that linking the scriptures is the best way to go either. I think that I have a curiosity as to why these 3 scriptures are grouped together though. What was the logic? Is there a link? Why out of the whole Bible would these lines be read on the same day?
At this point I have not read the final verse, or the comments, but unaffected by anything else, for fear of forgetting, I want to say that 1 Corinthians 1:18 is so comforting to me. I find myself so often trying to intellectually reconcile my beliefs. And I try to balance what I know, in the experiential way, to be true with what I know, in the mind way. And this verse in particular stands out to me to say ... "No, sometimes it doesn't make very much sense. But it's supposed to be that way. Remember what you have experienced and learned; remember what has been revealed to you, beyond intellect, and hold on to that. Trust that. Trust Christ, even when it seems total foolishness."
ha, that's funny, Dave. Good question--I've wondered the same thing. The fact that we'd question the "authority" or the "rationale" behind the choosing of the verses probably says something about our tradition...just not sure what. :) i'm guessing we would have had a hard time with Christianity PRE-reformation. ha ha
Post a Comment