Coming soon…

Changes will be made soon to tweak this site. May it be a blessing to all who visit.

I Need Something Beautiful

I need something beautiful
To carry me out of this darkness
Suffocating my heart
I need something beautiful
To captivate my soul.

A new day sun is rising
Through the skies and
A million colors burst forth from the heavens.
Please let one little spark
Find its way through the dark
And set fire to my soul blaze eternal.

And my soul waits for you
More than those that wait for the morning.
‘Cause I need something beautiful
To carry me far away from darkness
Suffocating my heart.
I need something beautiful
To liberate my soul.

Your love finds me in the still
And the icy black melts away.
Your love saturates the universe.
Your love is all that is beautiful.
Your love permeates the furthest depths of my soul.

O I need something beautiful
To carry me out of this darkness
Suffocating my heart
I need something beautiful
To captivate my soul.

Psalm 4

Here is another adventure in creative writing, though more structured. I was reading Psalm 4 with my cousin the other night and was moved by its beauty. I decided to rewrite it in a more poetic form of English. I diligently sought to preserve the theology of the psalm, but please forgive me if I erred. May it bless you as God has blessed me through it.  To him be all glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

“Psalm 4”

Hear my call, O saving God.

Through my troubles, you clear a way.

O Lord, my God, have mercy.

In your mercy, hear my prayer.

 

How long will you mock my glory,

And love what is worthless,

And chase after lies?

Know that the LORD has set apart

For Himself the faithful.

The LORD will hear when I call.

 

Tremble, tremble, tremble,

Tremble and do not sin.

Dream upon your beds in silence.

Offer the sacrifice of righteousness,

And trust in the LORD.

 

Many say, “May we see better days!”

O Lord, show us the light of your face!

You give my heart more joy

Than when their grain and wine abound.

In your peace I will lie down and sleep,

For you alone, O LORD, make me rest sound.

“I Am the Bread of Life”

In the Synoptic Gospels, we commonly hear Jesus address the multitude. In contrast, John’s Gospel most often presents Jesus speaking to individuals and small gatherings. In Cana he only addresses his mother and the servants at the wedding. In Samaria he speaks to the woman at Jacob’s well. Later he speaks with Nicodemus the Pharisee by night, and so on and so forth. In today’s reading in John’s Gospel, however, Jesus speaks out to the multitude, proclaiming the good news to all who will listen,

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

When we hear these words, they almost sound foreign. It’s as if this was some riddle, and we are left without the answer. Eat his flesh? Drink his blood? What kind of good news is that? Maybe its a metaphor. Yet, when the Jews obviously take him literally, Jesus does not re-clarify or choose different words. He doesn’t explain away the uncomfortable. Instead he re-emphasizes “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you… For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

As St. Justin Martyr (110-165 AD) wrote in defense of Christian worship,

“For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.”

Why is this such a struggle for us? Why do we find ourselves offended by this proclamation? I believe it is because these words expose us. They are as light, and reveal us for who we truly are.

We are rebellious and proud – and inevitably terrified. We insist upon a god that resides firmly within our understanding and comfort, tame and non-threatening. We desire a god at arms length. We desire a dependent god whom we satiate with our worship and good deeds; a god we can live without if need be. We do not desire a God without need of us, and on whom we are dependent for our very sustenance. We do not desire a God who requires such vulnerability and intimacy, trust and truthfulness. In Christ we come face to face with our God who has not spared anything in all creation, but even gave all of Himself for our lives, and who requires the same from us in return as a true exchange of love.

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

Let us not be offended, but respond in faith. Let us admit our need for a God who desires to dwell within us and us within him. Let us respond with the words of the faithful, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” To God be all glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jailbreak!

Today’s epistle reading comes from Acts 12, telling of the martydom of St. James the Apostle (one of the “Sons of Thunder”). Herod slew him by the sword, and seeing the approval of the people (which will later be his downfall) Herod arrests Peter. This happens just before Passover.

That’s right. Persecution comes about during Holy Week. I can only imagine what must have been running through the minds of Peter, the other Apostles, and the rest of the Church. Here they were, maybe just a handful of years after their lives were completely changed forever. It seemed like almost yesterday they had witnessed their Lord Jesus betrayed, condemned, and crucified; And then the shock and wonder of an empty tomb and Christ appearing numerous times to them in the flesh. Christ had trampled down death by death bestowing life to those in the tombs. These past few years the followers of Jesus had lived each day as if it were their last – or rather their first in the eternal Kingdom of God. And now one of their brothers had been murdered for his testimony, and another sat in jail awaiting his execution following the holy day of God’s Passover.

I wonder if sitting in his cell Peter recalled the same night before when Jesus had been arrested in the garden. Peter had lashed out with his sword, but Jesus rebuked him. Peter had followed at a distance, wavering in his allegiance between his Lord and his flesh until he ultimately denied his Master three times. Peter wept.

Perhaps Peter recalled the Passover feast where the Paschal Lamb’s blood was shed for the life of God’s people, and the people ate in readiness to depart from oppression into the Promised Land of freedom. New words stayed with him: “This is my body broken for you… This is my blood poured out for you…” Words that now meant everything to Peter.

Perhaps Peter recalled the stone rolled away from the grave early on the third day; a grave that lay empty inside. And Jesus. Jesus had really stood among them in their hiding behind locked doors of fear. His hands and side still pierced, yet his body was whole.

Peter probably wondered what awaited, and what awaited was release. An angel appeared and led Peter out of the heavily guarded jail and into the city streets. One more prisoner freed from the prison of the world’s judgment. The Church had been awake praying for Peter, and could hardly believe it when he knocked on their door.

I wonder if they were come together around the Eucharist? On the anniversary of the first Eucharist, the Church prayed anxiously feeling the absence of their beloved bishop who was to preside at the feast of remembrance. And then a knock at the door!

Pascha has come! Christ is truly risen! Those in bondage have been set free. Those defeated by the flesh have been released from its tyranny. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death and bestowing life to those in the tombs. Christ is risen! And his Church arises. Christ is risen! And the shackles of feaer are broken. Christ is risen! and the bonds of love bridge the bounds of time and geography to unite those who love the Lord. Christ is risen! And he calls us forward into his Kingdom of righteousness with bold obedience to his voice and unbridled joy at the good things that await.

Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!

Christ is Risen!

 

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee from before his face!

As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire,

So the sinners will perish before the face of God; but let the righteous be glad.

This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death,

and on those in the grave bestowing life. “

 ”O day of resurrection! Let us beam with God’s own pride! Let everyone embrace in joy! Let us warmly greet those we meet and treat them all like brothers, even those who hate us! Let all the earth resound with this song: Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death, and on those in the grave bestowing life!”

The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom:

“If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!

Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free.

He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, “Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions.” It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!

It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!

“O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?”

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen, and life reigns!

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!

For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.

To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.”

 

Jesus Paid it All

Holy Week draws near to close. Christ entered triumphantly into our midst as a king so majestic that even the stones sing out his praise; and yet he comes before us in humility, riding a donkey. And so is the Anointed One of God – he comes to us as a Conquering King in the form of a suffering servant. How easily we neglect to see the fullness of Christ.

And then there is Mary. Mary whose eyes were opened when her love was called forth from the grave. Mary who anoints the feet of her Lord. And Jesus – Jesus who loves his Church and defends her from the envy and accusation of the Enemy.

Jesus. He overthrows the money tables and drives out hypocrisy and greed. He cleanses his Father’s Temple and sits enthroned to instruct the nations.

Jesus. He washes the feet of his disciples, and commands them to do likewise. He loves them to the end, and commands them to do likewise. He takes the bread from heaven and breaks it, hands it to his disciples, and tells them to eat; for this is his body broken for them. He takes the cup, hands it to his disciples, and tells them to drink; for this cup is the new covenant of his blood poured out for all. He prays that his disciples may be one as He and the Father are one, and he commands us to love one another.

And in the hour of darkness, the world comes for Jesus. In scheming betrayal and malice, wielding pain, death, and terror. His disciples scattered. Himself bound. He willingly goes with his captors to face his Accuser. He is falsely tried, beaten, and scorned. The Son of God and Redeemer rejected by the self-righteous sons of perdition.

Jesus brought before the Ruler of the world and a people with no King but Caesar. Jesus bartered for Barabbas. Jesus stripped and beaten, scourged and scorned, clothed in Crimson and crowned with thorns.

Jesus – by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus – he carries the weight of the world’s sin an misery on his shoulders up to Golgotha.

Jesus – he has written our names on the palms of his hands.

Jesus – When he is lifted up, he draws all people to himself.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. 

Lord Jesus Christ, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.

A Picture of Praise (and Love)

“Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him, saying, ‘Master, the one you love is ill.’ When Jesus heard this he said, ‘This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’ He said this, and then told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.’ So the disciples said to him, ‘Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.’ But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, ‘Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.’ So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go to die with him.’

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.’

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, ‘The teacher is here and is asking for you.’ As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Sir, come and see.’ And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him.’ But some of them said, ‘Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?’ So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, ‘Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.’ And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, ‘Untie him and let him go.’ Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, ‘What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.”

Now, I posted all of that so that we can now read in better context the Gospel reading for today that comes in the following chapter of John’s Gospel:

“Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’ He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.”

In the raising of Lazarus, Martha shows amazing faith. She runs to meet Jesus, and says that if he had been there her brother would not have died. But even so, Jesus was not too late to work a miracle. She confesses: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world. We in the Church shoul maintain such unshakable faith. We also see the Jews, who look for a sign… who are always looking for a sign. So many of us are like this. We view Jesus as a miracle machine. We look to him as one looks to a magician. We want to be amazed and entertain. Yet many of these people come to believe when they see the love of Jesus manifested in its fullness. There are also the religious leaders who hear, and yet their hearts are hardened by their fear of losing their power, and they seek to kill Jesus. Therer is the response of Lazarus, who is… well… dead. He is DEAD; four-days and stinking in the grave dead. And he responds to Christ by….well… walking out of the grave ALIVE. Many are amazed by his being raised from th edead, and his new life in Christ inspires those around him to come to faith in Jesus, too.

And then there is Mary.

Mary, the sister who stayed behind when Matha ran out to meet Jesus. Mary, who when called to Jesus responds by telling Jesus that if he had come earlier her brother would still be alive…. and then nothing more but tears. No statement of faith. No statement of hope. And upon this response, Jesus weeps with her. Yet though her faith is failing, Jesus loves her. Jesus’ love breaks the chains of death that hold Lazarus in the grave and calls him from the darkness out into the light.

When Jesus is back in Bethany, they hold a feast for him. Martha is her typical self, serving her Lord faithfully as well as her brothers and sisters (how much we can learn from her example!). Lazarus is reclining at the table with Jesus. The Jews observe from a distance. The religious leaders look for a way to kill Jesus.

And then there is Mary.

Mary comes forward and annoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and dries his feet with her hair. What an act of repentence! What an act of worship! What an act of love! She does not bother with words. She does not bother about anyone looking on. She does not worry about the cost. She takes her very best and offers it in love to her Lord. Scripture refers to a woman’s hair as her glory, and this she offers as well as she dries Jesus’ feet. How very beautiful!

And then there is Judas. Judas who holds the money bags and steals from it for his own use. Judas who will betray the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. Judas who betrays his Lord with a kiss. Judas responds to this pure, beautiful worship by admonishing her with words of self-righteous indignation and empty religion.

And then there is Jesus. Jesus who is Love. And Love responds by defending Mary. Love who rebukes the devil and silences the dragons accusations against the Lady, his Bride. Jesus accepts the offering of his Beloved and shelters her beauty from the evil one. What grace! What beauty! What love!

What a picture of what our worship should look like. Hear the good news: Jesus Christ is risen! Jesus Christ is Love, and his love has brought us out of the clutches of the grave and death as well, uniting us with him forever! Amen.

Lent: Journey of Love

Today is the first day of April, and already Lent nears the end of its wilderness excursion. The final leg of the race approaches us, and though our flesh cries out from prolonged fatigue and weariness, it is time for us to set our eyes on the finish and complete the course set for us.

We can learn much from our experiences through Lent, and here are a few disconnected thoughts I’ve pondered:

1. Lent is a marathon, not a sprint. And so is life, for that matter. One mistake sprinters often make when running a long-distance course is that they start out at too fast of a pace. These runners shoot to the front quickly, but tire out just as soon, One by one they fall by the wayside unable to finish their course.

One key that we learn is the importance of knowing one’s self. To continue the same analogy, a runner who does not know his own capabilities can press himself too hard for too long. This runner is then prone to injury and sickness. One must know one’s limits. Knowing our limits allows us to push ourselves to the maximum without fear.

Another principle that follow the marathon analogy is the importance of practice. A competitive athlete trains continually. Practice helps us to know our ability, as well as our strengths and weaknesses. Even the best performers practice regularly.

Yet how can we as Christians expect to perform well during Lent when we do not train. Throughout the rest of the year we do not fast regularly. We do not pray regularly. We do not study God’s Word regularly. We do not commit ourselves to regularly serving others, or regularly giving of our means. We do not guard our tongues or our hearts. We are lazy, and we are sympathetic to the laziness of others. As Scripture says, we not only sin, but give approval to the sins of others. Let us strive to maintain lives of righteousness throughout the year – in seasons of fasting and feasting, let us do all things as unto the Lord.

2. The second thing that I’ve observed is that it is easier to follow the law than the Spirit. It is easier to follow the rules of fasting and prayer and service than it is to follow the Spirit who calls us to discipline, holiness, purity, faith, and love. How much easier it is for me to deprive myself out of some silly spirit of self-righteous pride, than it is for me to bend my knees to wash my brothers’ feet and proclaim God’s praise out of a spirit of humility and love. Love – It is so important for us to search out love, for wherever love is true, we find God. Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

If we go through Lent focused on the trials, and if we focus on our success and failures, and if we focus on our discomfort, and if we focus on the other nations, and if we focus on the dangers, and if we focus on our appetites, and if we focus on others’ shortcomings, and if we focus on the wind and the waves, and if we focus on anything in all creation other than Christ… we will be lost.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world shining brightly before us as a beacon guiding us through the desert. Do not let your gaze wander from him. We must follow him in his obedience. We must follow him in his faith. We must follow him in his love. If we turn away we will surely miss the path and find ourselves among the throng yelling “Crucify him! Crucify him! We have no king but Caesar.”

Pray that God grant us grace to remain steadfast, so that we may follow Christ through the streets of Jerusalem carrying the cross of his Passion. Let us be found fortunate enough to gaze upon the Lamb not as Victim, but Victor. Let us follow him to Golgotha so that we may be embraced by his outstretched arms. May we be faithful to glory in his resurrection, and to expect his appearing on the third day.

May we remember to love, friends. Let us not forget love.

Jonah

Today I’ve decided to switch things up a bit and include a little creative writing on this journal.

 

“Jonah”

 

I woke up and saw the sky was falling,

Heard the sky was falling,

Felt the sky falling on my head.

Heard your call – it wasn’t what I was wanting,

Far too daunting, I chose the path of ease instead.

Pitter-patter and the rain keeps coming,

Ocean foaming,

Your storm won’t stop following me.

Waves keep rising as your lightning flashes,

Thunder crashes.

You plunged me beneath your sea.

 

All submerged beneath my sorrow

Sinking down into the deep

Resting at the roots of mountains

Where forgotten sins will sleep

Searching desperately for pardon

From within this watery night

Yet even in despondency

Darkness has not quenched your light.

 

I looked up to face your holy temple,

Love so simple,

Your love was lifting me

Through the scary maze of death and confusion,

Deceitful illusion.

You’re setting this captive free.

Forever close behind me the bars of sorrow.

Send me again tomorrow

To proclaim how your love saves.

Hold me up to embrace love’s sacrifice,

Leaving behind what lies

Beneath our watery graves.