LSTC Lenten Meditationshttp://www.lstc.edu/chapel/lent.phpLenten meditations written by members of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago communityen-usCopyright 2008, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicagojboden@lstc.edu (Jan Boden)webmaster@lstc.edu (Roger Bottorff)Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:15:40 -0500http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss<![CDATA[Mar 23, 2008 - Matthew 28:1-10]]>Alleluia! Jesus is risen! We have been on a journey. And now, the journey of Lent-with it's powerful encounters, with it's building drama of challenges and conflicts-is finished. Now, the journey through Holy Week and the Three Days-the final walk through Jesus' turbulent life, betrayal, cross and burial-is complete. But the celebration of new life and resurrection has just begun. [more]

]]>Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 22, 2008 - Romans 6:3-11]]>As we keep watch in the Easter vigil it is a mind-blowing idea to think that through baptism we somehow share in the death of Christ Jesus.  What dies of course is that about ourself that we most despise-our self-centeredness, our carelessness, our indifference to the injustice that pervades our society, our own bigotries, yes, our sin.  We are not yet quite dead to sin, but we hope that with each dunking into our baptismal waters we get closer to dying. [more]

]]>Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 21, 2008 - Matthew 27:24]]>Pilate took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." (Matt 27:24).

Pilate washed his hands. Only the Roman governor could order someone to be crucified. The High Priest and scribes and elders could desire Jesus' death, but they could not fulfill their wish. The only one finally responsible for Jesus' death was Pilate.

Jesus' blood was on his hands and Pilate washed his hands. The earth is covered with the blood of the righteous, covering the hands of fearful leaders who killed prophets and sages and scribes. Those leaders could not wash their hands. Yet Pilate washed his hands.

Jesus' blood was on Judas' hands, and he could not bear to live. His money was blood money, and his grave was the Field of Blood. Yet Pilate washed his hands.

Jesus' blood was in his disciples' hands. He gave them the cup and said it was the blood of the covenant, which was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. The Sons of Zebedee and Peter slept when Jesus prayed the cup be taken away. A disciple drew blood when Jesus was arrested. Peter denied Jesus when confession counted most. Jesus' blood covered their hands, their sins, their hearts and their lives.

Pilate washed his hands, but I cannot. I cannot wash my hands of my guilt and I cannot refuse the gracious gift of his blood. [more]

]]>Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 20, 2008 - John 13]]>Here and there in the late middle ages this day was called dies natalis calicis-birthday of the chalice.  As a name it never gained ground from the "Maundy," even though the mandatum (commandment) to love one another and its accompanying foot washing disappeared from corporate consciousness-at least for a time. [more]

]]>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 18, 2008 - John 12:24]]>"Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." [more]

]]>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 17, 2008 - John 12:1-11]]>"But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?' (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)"

Okay, I get it, Judas was a bad dude.  He betrayed Christ to his fate and stole from poor people to boot.  But I still think he gets a bad rap here.  The author clearly has a preconceived notion of who Judas was.  Yeah sure he was a disciple, but he betrayed Jesus.  Yeah sure he says he cares about the poor, but it's only a front.

How often do we fall into the same trap?  We paint people into boxes of which we will never let them out.  No matter what good they may do, we always have to point out why they're flawed.  Why is it so hard for us to admit the saint in the sinners we encounter in life?  What is it that we get out of "putting people in their place"?

As we enter the darkness before the light that ends this Lenten season let us remember that it is with the perceived sinners that Jesus spent much of his time.  I like to believe his deepest joy in these encounters was wiping away the filth of condemnation that had piled up on the buried saint within these people and watching them come into the light.

Lord, as we move toward your death and resurrection, which forever wiped away the condemnation that has piled up on us, help us to see the saint as well as the sinner in those we encounter.  Help us to rejoice in these moments that even those we condemn are not beyond your grace-filled touch. Amen [more]

]]>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 16, 2008 - Matthew 21:8-9]]>

"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven.'" (Matt 21: 8-9) [more]

]]>Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 15, 2008 - Romans 8:6-11]]>Romans 8:6-11:  "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law - indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." [more]

]]>Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 13, 2008 - Ezekiel 37:1-14]]>"'I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord have spoken and will act,' says the Lord." [more]

]]>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 12, 2008 - Romans 8:6-11]]>When I was a child, the Lutheran church to which I belonged did not bury the al—ia for Lent, simply because we didn’t sing al—ia in our liturgy at all. There was nothing to bury! Like the worship service, the worship space was simple and unadorned throughout the year, so seasonal changes were not readily apparent, even in the 40 days preceding Easter. My church lived out an uncomplicated Lutheran tradition of Law and Gospel, word and sacrament, preaching and hymns. [more]

]]>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 11, 2008 - Psalm 130]]>I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in God's word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for
the morning,
more than those who watch for
the morning.
Psalm 130: 5-6 [more]

]]>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500<![CDATA[Mar 10, 2008 - Psalm 130]]>Ah waiting, life is full of waiting; the bible is full of waiting.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
Psalm 130 [more]

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