Lent - Day 9

       The issue of Jesus being fully human and fully divine has been settled long ago.  It is striking that we can hold fast to either nature in our spiritual growth as it is needed.  This is a true grace to us. I myself find great comfort in Jesus' humanity. During Lent I believe one of our biggest challenges and purposes is to embrace fully our own humanity that points to and enhances our very own divinity.  Part of that challenge is determining what it is that gets in our way. What hinders our growth. What do we hold so dear as to replace God in our lives as false deities and stumbling blocks to our person growth? This is the nitty gritty of Lent, of life!

       I have wondered what are the human and earthly things that surely tempted Jesus as he lived and walked with us. We know scant about the many years from his infancy to the inception of his ministry. I really love The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.

It is a fun story of what His life could have been. Rather than blasphemy, it is fun stuff. The question remains, what of this years of Jesus' life when we know virtually nothing. All I do know is that Jesus was fully human so whatever it is that I am going through, Jesus knows what it is and feels like as a human being.

       Today the Episcopal church remembers two people, Saint Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. Both of these people who were rather well off at least for part of their lives, came to have great empathy and concern for the peasants and poor around them.  Being well off is no guarantee of salvation and in many cases it was detrimental to the soul. I often quote Saint Vincent for having said, 'preach the Good News always, use words when necessary'. I am not certain it is necessary to divest oneself from the wealth and gifts we have been graced with. That may be a challenge for me. What I do know is that whatever gifts we have been graced with, we are called to use it/them in the service of God and to help us grow into the spiritually alive people God has imbued in us all.

       Let us reinvigorate ourselves with the purpose of making Lent a time of purpose and effort, a time of honing and a time where we embrace the two-edged sword of God that pierces until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow.  This is only to say we are on a serious mission, one that speaks to the depth ( and glory ) of our very being.

       Let us be recommitted to the growth and holy preparation of Lent. We pray.

Hebrews 4:11-16

Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. 

 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.