Our Lenten study book, Max Vincent’s, “Because of This I Rejoice,” provides us with opportunities to read and reflect on Scripture every day of the week. The Scripture passages listed below are the suggested readings for the week following the Fourth Sunday in Lent. I will list each day below, and fill in my thoughts as the week goes on…hoping to be a day or two ahead. Lenten blessings throughout this week and during your daily reflections.

Monday: (Genesis 18:1-8) – If you have been reading along with us during our Lenten book study, you will have encountered this Scripture reading from Vincent’s chapter on “Joyful Hospitality.” Vincent discusses the early Christian practice of hospitality and its belief that welcoming the stranger or visitor was the same as welcoming Christ; and he references both Genesis 18 and Hebrews 13 (Saturday’s reading below) as scriptural evidence of this belief and practice. I think we can read of Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality and have enough scriptural food for the day…or, we can put this in context and have a feast of interesting thoughts for reflection. If you have the time, read pieces (or all) of the story of Abraham and Sarah from chapter 12 until you reach our lesson for today. In short, you will discover God’s covenant with Abraham communicated several times, you will hear of Abraham’s deceit to the Egyptians regarding the truth of his relationship with Sarah, you will watch Abraham profit greatly for his time in Egypt, and journey north as Lot heads to the Plains and Abraham and Sarah head to the land of Canaan. Throughout these moments, Abraham and Sarah remain childless…the covenant long promised by God remains “yet to be fulfilled.” Now, it is in the context of this barren, anxiety filled story of two old people of God, as they wait for God’s promise of new birth, that three visitors enter the story. I believe it is important for us to know that Abraham offers the three visitors “joyful hospitality” while he waits, and waits, and waits for God’s covenantal promise to come to fruition…and it is only after this moment of joyful hospitality that Isaac is born (chapter 21). Is it easier for us to offer ourselves to others when we are experiencing moments of fulfillment and joy in our own lives? How can Abraham and Sarah be faithful examples to us as they offer the three visitors hospitality in the midst of their uncertain lives and surrounded by the possibilities that life will not unfold as they expect?

Tuesday: (Matthew 25:31-46) – Continuing with the theme of “hospitality,” we hear the lesson of the “righteous” and the “condemned” in Matthew’s Gospel account. For a “fire and brimstone” preacher, this is good stuff! However, I believe we need to listen to these words of Jesus with an open and humble heart…after all, not many of us would pass the mark of judgment if the test was a “black and white” exercise. As the Apostle Paul says in numerous places, if we depend on our own righteousness, we’re in a lot of trouble. So, what to make of these words of caution? I believe Jesus is breaking open the truth of a “life of hospitality” and is describing what that life looks like in practical terms. The life of hospitality is a life lived looking outward; a life that seeks to make the life of others better. A selfish, self-absorbed life is one that coldly passes by those in need and looks inward, worried about self-interests and self-gratification. This can be a difficult theological idea to grasp with words and images, which is why I really like C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Great Divorce.” Lewis is able to work through the various selfish sins of the world and paint a picture of personal torment, which can be eternal. Wrapped up in our own desires, the “comfort” and “control” of our own ways pulls us away from God’s way and God’s eternal presence of love…so, the “comfort” of our selfish ways leads to a dark and dismal eternal prison, far from the light of God. To me, this seems to be the eternal punishment of our own making that Jesus warns his followers about and teaches that repentance and trust in God can turn this dark world around to God’s light and love.

Wednesday: (Mark 6:7-12) – Faith, trust, and courage. These are the three words that come to my mind as I read this Scripture passage from Mark’s Gospel account. This Scripture passage is one that I go to in my prayers often. It is filled with exhortations to trust God and to live faithfully as one who is surrounded by God’s trust and love in ourselves. Jesus sends the disciples out, “two by two” because we do not walk humbly with our God alone, we walk in the presence of God and with others. We carry no more than what we need, for in trusting God we are given what we need for the day…this is the hard part of the lesson! We live in a consumer society; a society that collects things, uses things, and disposes of things because the “new and better” thing just arrived. And there is control in our practice of storing things up…I know what’s in my cabinets, boxes, pockets, and drawers…and I have everything just where I want it. Jesus is asking us to let go of that control and to trust God, and to trust ourselves. I think this part is where the “courage” comes in…courage that we can lead happy and fulfilling lives giving control to God (who actually is the only one who is in control in the first place…haha). And courage that we can love God and love ourselves as we lead these lives, in Christ…this is the part where Jesus tells us to “shake off the dust that is on our feet.” It takes real courage to live a Gospel centered life and know that Christ loves you for it, and that love should fill your heart with the courage to respect your life. And if there are those who rebuke you for your life in Christ, know that God is standing next to you and God’s love and respect is enough, now and always. These things are difficult to do, but if we can manage to believe them, we will have faith, trust, and courage.

Thursday: (Romans 12:9-21) – This short piece of Scripture, written by the Apostle Paul at the end of his days of ministry, is an amazing summary of the essential elements of the marks of a life lived in Christ. The advice given by Paul seems fairly straightforward, but like many things in life, the actual practice of these words of advice are not always the easy path as we live our life with others. Without going into detail on every bit of advice from Paul, which could fill a book itself, I believe a reflection on this Scripture lesson every day would have a powerful impact on one’s life. The idea of being centered in the love of Christ is, by itself, a powerful lesson for one to take up. And the advice of verse 9, “to leave room for the justice of God to be done,” is wise counsel that helps us to realize both the human failings of ourselves and of others, and helps us realize Jesus’ advice to remove the log from our own eye before giving judgment toward others (Luke 6:42). Love is a powerful virtue, and remains the center of who we are and what we do as followers of Christ.

Friday: (1 Peter 4:1-11) – This beautifully written Scripture lesson maintains a similar theme to the lesson we read yesterday (Romans 12:9-21). The First Letter of Peter is believed to have been written from an early Christian in Rome from the last part of the first century; a few years after Paul’s letter to the Romans. It may be that this author was familiar with Paul’s writings and has added to the Christian experience of living life in Christ. We hear the author write of the challenges of “earthly life” and the difficulties of living a Christian life, surrounded with those who do not appreciate the Christian life and are “surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses.” The exhortation to “maintain constant love, for love covers a multitude of sins” is advice that seeks to give strength and steadfastness to the lifestyle choices of these early Christians, and us. Advice that reminds us that, no matter how hard we try, we may find life difficult or slip into bad habits. No matter…live a life filled with love for God and others, and remember that a life in Christ is a life lived for the glory of God. These are encouraging words for the Christians of the early church, and for us today.

Saturday: (Hebrews 13:1-6) – This short Scripture lesson is consistent with the theme of love and hospitality we have explored all week. However, an expanded read of Hebrews, chapters 11-12, prior to our lesson here will help reflect on the ideas of faith, love, and the example of Jesus, which will lead us into next week’s chapter on asceticism. “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This well-known verse is a reference to Abraham’s hospitality to the three strangers, who are messengers of God. As discussed previously, the Christian virtues of “love and charity” help us to maintain our open and loving perspective to all people we meet, and help us to empty ourselves of the “love of earthly riches and power” and to seek the things that only God can provide. How might we “let mutual love continue” in our own lives?