This Sunday's lessons can be found here .I want to live as a child of the light
I want to be like Jesus...
That hymn was going through my mind as I read the lessons for this coming Sunday.
What do the texts suggest that being a "child of the light" looks and feels like?
Any other insights into the Scriptures as you weave them into your sermons and worship planning this week? Or are you finding light in other texts? As always, let us know.
It does seem to me that this Sunday's readings are reminding us of the light just before we really plunge into the darkness of Holy Week. "I am your God and you are my people" and "You are my son; today I have begotten you" along with "whoever serves me, the Father will honor."
ReplyDeleteThe readings don't take away suffering and darkness but they remind us that, even when it seems to be as dark as it can get, the light is with us, holding us.
There is another hymn that comes to mind for me. It's probably the cheeriest one in the Lent section of the Episcopal Hymnal.
Now quit your care and anxious fear and worry;
for schemes are vain and fretting brings no gain.
Lent calls to prayer, to trust and dedication;
God brings new beauty nigh;
reply, reply, reply with love to love most high;
reply, reply, reply with love to love most high.
I love that hymn! It's the best part of the season after the Epiphany. :-)
ReplyDeleteI looked at these readings as part of God's eternal love story. The passage from Jeremiah is so wonderful, so joyful. My initial reflections are here.
Peace and love!
I planned this over a month ago, so I can't be sure just what I was thinking (what WAS I thinking?). I think I'm going with the gospel, with a hefty dose of the Jeremiah. That Jeremiah passage was the first Bible passage I ever wrote a paper on, so it has a warm little place in my heart. Nothing good in the paper to use, but so be it.
ReplyDeleteWill be looking forward to your thoughts.
We are doing Jeremiah here, with "new heart" being the theme within the overall Lenten theme of covenant. I'm not preaching this week, so I'm not sure where this is going to go--I only know that the SP has chosen "my life flows on" as the hymn after the sermon. We'll see, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteI'm leaning towards Jeremiah with a touch of the gospel. The verse that includes, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts" reminded me of this Hasidic tale I heard at a recent Spiritual retreat (it was also included in the Mar/Apr edition of Weavings magazine:
ReplyDelete"A disciples asks the rebbe, 'Why does the Torah tell us to "place these words upon your hearts"? Why does it not tell us to place these holy words in our hearts?' The rebbe answers, 'It is because as we are, our hearts are closed, and we cannot place the holy words in our hearts. So we place them on top of our hearts. And there they stay, until, one day, the heart breaks and the words fall in.'"
Though heartbreak, we find compassion and grace. The cross can be seen as "God's heart broken for the sake of humankind, broken open into a love that Christ's followers are called to emulate."
Jesus' words about the grain of wheat dying in order to bear fruit seem to point to our need to have our hearts broken open in order for us to bear fruit.
Early ramblings...will see what crops up as Sunday approaches!
sigh...I don't know what I am going to do yet.
ReplyDeleteI do know I got my title:
The Hour Has Come.
Simple, easy, from the text.
I'm doing something with Jeremiah and the gospel lesson, but what I don't know, which is too bad, since I'm now trying to write the sermon. Knowing what you're writing about? Helps.
ReplyDeleteRevSis, I like it! Thank you--I think this is going to help the sermon immensely. You know, give it a point.
ReplyDeleteI second Esperanza--RevSis, you have just hit the homiletical nail on the head! I am also planning to work with Jeremiah plus a touch of the Gospel, and the story you've cited works perfectly and gives me some direction. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe building block this week is painted with a heart, so I may especially focus on the heart and what it means that God loves us (with thanks to Hedwyg in that area!). Still pondering and trying to think of a hook to get started (hopefully a bit earlier this week).