Notes from the Choir Loft - January 31, 2021
The year of Mark can be confusing for anyone looking for a sequential narrative. In Lent, three of the gospel readings come from John, whose portrayal of Jesus could not be more different from Mark’s. Year B is probably a good time to let go of the notion of “following Jesus” on his journey to Jerusalem and instead sink into the season as a time for catechesis, for reclaiming our identity in baptism as we prepare for Easter. It is also a good time to remember that not everyone in our assemblies may be baptized yet, or may have a grasp of what that long-ago rite means in their lives now.
Whether or not a congregation has a pattern of preparing candidates for baptism in Lent, the season is rich with baptismal imagery. The waters drown the evil around us (Genesis 9), name us as part of God’s family (Genesis 17), enroll us as a people formed by God’s law (Exodus 20), offer healing from deadly sin (Numbers 21), and welcome us home as a people whose law is written on the heart (Jeremiah 31). When read through the season in this chronological fashion, these texts offer the reader/listener a chance to dispel the myth that God’s mercy in the Old Testament is somehow different from God’s mercy in Christ.
Many people imagine Lent as merely a time of somber self-sacrifice, but the gospel acclamation for Lent reminds us to return to God, who is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Repentance is not a frightening appearance before an angry God, but a homecoming to one who longs to save us in the midst of our trials and fears. In each of the gospel readings we hear a word of grace in the midst of the fears we face: God longs to hear us as a father wants to listen to his children (Ash Wednesday); angels accompany Jesus during his temptation in the wilderness (Lent 1); Jesus calls Peter to move from confession to discipleship (Lent 2); the corrupt temple cannot throw Jesus off his mission (Lent 3); even the cross becomes a sign of healing (Lent 4); and death is a precursor to new life (Lent 5).
There is no need to create more somberness or fear of sin in us our assemblies that we are in desperate need of God’s help and salvation. As you look around at those around you, remember those for whom the usual language of sin and grace has no particular resonance; keep in mind that for some people any mention of sin produces shame. It is not enough to simply point to the cross without providing a clear sense of God’s mercy found there. We can easily find words to name our need; the challenge is to name the gifts of God’s grace with as much creativity and vividness as possible.
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From the Pastors Desk - 10/31/23
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An Interview!
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Notes from the Choir Loft - 06/30/22
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Introducing Junior Church