Sunday, March 27, 2011

Well, well, well ....

Water.

Breaking down barriers.

Life.

There are many themes in today's Gospel story (John 4:5-42) about Jesus and the woman at the well.  But today I saw a new theme in this reading ...

Time.

For example, did you know that this passage represents the longest one-on-one conversation recorded with Jesus in the Bible?   (And we don't even know the woman's name!) 

Then, of course, there is the obvious mention of time when Jesus tells the woman that the "hour is coming, and is here now, when people will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth."   Can you imagine being hit with that information?  Being told that the Messiah you've been waiting for your whole life was standing right next to you?

And let's not forget the reference to Eternal Life.  That is time without human boundaries. 

But the time element that really struck me today was when John tells us that Jesus "stayed there two days."

It is a simple, passing statement that I have blown past hundreds of times.  But today it got my mind racing...

Two days.  That town had just two days with the Son of God.   How did they spend it?  What did they learn?  Did they truly believe he was the Messiah ... or just a prophet?  What questions did they ask?  What did He tell them?  Who did He eat with?  How long did He preach?  And how fast did those 48 hours fly by? 

It got me thinking about how I would spend 48 hours with Christ.  

But it also made me value the quiet time I spend with Him this Lenten season.  No longer will I view it as an endless supply of time I can take whenever I want.  

No.  Instead, I will view it as precious and as limited as that time the Samaritans had with our Lord.


I hope you are all having a Blessed Lent.



Sunday, March 20, 2011

What if The Good Thief Thought it Over (A Lenten Reflection)

No surprise that Luke 23 contains one of my favorite scenes in the whole Bible.  

But what if the Good Thief waited?

-------------------------------------

Criminal One: (to Jesus) Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us?

Good Thief:  (to self) Hmmmm.  What should I do?  I've done a lot of bad things in my life.  I wonder if I should ask Jesus for forgiveness?  Should I tell him I hope he remembers me when he gets to His kingdom?  Or should I wait?  Maybe I can just ask Him in the afterlife.  Or maybe the things I have done aren't that bad after all.  God probably knows I'm sorry, right?  Decisions decisions. What ... should ...I ... do ....

Jesus:  (to Heaven)  Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

Good Thief:  (to Jesus' body)  Jesus?  Jesus?
Good Thief:  (to self) Uh oh...


-------------------------------


Lent is the perfect time to remember that Jesus is right here next to us, waiting with open arms to forgive our sins.


We just have to repent before its too late.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

What if Cana Went Like This (A Lenten Reflection)

You know from my Fly on the Wall post that the Wedding at Cana is one of three biblical scenes I would love to go back and watch. 

But what if that event went like this ....

Mary:  They have no wine.

Jesus:  Woman what does your concern have to do with me.  My hour has not yet come.

Mary (to servant):  Do whatever He tells you.

Jesus (to servant):  Fill the jars with water.

Servant:  No.

Imagine that?  Imagine if the servant flat out refused to follow Christ's request?  Told Him no.  Turned away from Him.   Decided to do his own thing instead.

Crazy right?



We do it every day.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Ash Wednesday is When??

Well, Lent has gone and snuck up on me again.  

I guess in the back of my head, I knew it was late this year and kept telling myself I had more time to prepare.  But alas, it is now right around the corner.

So, in a panic, I decided to Google "preparing for Lent" and I came across a theme that stopped me in my tracks:

Listening.

Paraphrasing my findings:  Preparing for Lent means preparing to listen to what God wants to tell you during this blessed time. 

I didn't realize it, but I've always viewed Lent as a one way street between me and God.  Me giving stuff up to let Him know that I understand the sacrifice He made. Me doing good works to show Him that I am thankful.  Me going to confession to tell Him that I am sorry.      

But listening? 
  

Who knew I was supposed to stop and listen?

I mean, I might actually learn what He wants that way!

God Bless.