Daily ScriptureMark 1:1, 4-5, 9-13The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God… John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins… In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Prayer TipThe other day I realized that my car had not been washed since last November. There were several reasons – the weather being bad, the business of my week, or it was just too cold to get outside. However, when I finally cleaned it, there was a sense of joy that my car looked brand new. It’s much like our lives. Over time, if we leave our hearts and souls unattended, they get messy. The season of Lent invites us to let God deal with the mess. That’s not to say that it teaches us about quickly cleaning things up and pretending they were never there, nor is it about ignoring the mess. Rather it invites us to roll up our sleeves and sort through the mess—the bad habits we have. It allows us to see the parts of ourselves we’d rather cover up and bring them into the light. This Lenten season, let us prayerfully consider the dirt and grime of our lives and ask God to wash us clean.
Lord, As we journey with you to cross, reveal yourself to us. Reveal to us those things that hinder our relationship with you and others. Amen. - Tino Herrera, Congregational Care Pastor |
