Monday, March 11th
- Jeremiah 31: 31-34
“I am spiritual but not religious”…offers a critique of the incessant “teachings” and posturing we inflict on one another as if the teachings can get us to relationship with God on their own rote memorization.
This text moves us from mere catechism to another form of belonging and its validation. Rather, the new covenant is based on relationship with God and the communal relational power of forgiveness…Not only will God forgive sins, but God is willing to alter the very heart of the people, so that sin will be intuitively recognized and rejected by them.
Gary V. Simpson
Tuesday, March 12th:
- Psalm 51: 1-12
The psalmist is clear that it is God’s action, not their own, that will lead to forgiveness and re-creation. Beginning in verse 6, the psalmist uses a string of imperatives, imploring God to offer forgiveness and renewal. Though the psalmist takes responsibility for their transgressions and acknowledges their sin, the psalmist also recognizes that it is God and God alone who can “pass judgment”, “teach…wisdom”, “purge…with hysop”, “blot out all…iniquities”, and ultimately “create…a clean heart” in the psalmist.
Kimberly R. Wagner
Wednesday, March 13th:
- Hebrews 5:5-10
While Hebrews shows no familiarity with the Gospels’ version of the Gethsemane story, there prayers would include those in the Garden, but also other prayers during the passion…
Hebrews says that those prayers were heard because of Christ’s piety. This seems strange, because God, who is called the one who is “able to save” him, does not save him. So, being heard as a righteous person does not mean that suffering is taken away. The act of God that vindicates Christ’s suffering comes only after this death. This is important, because the original readers of Hebrews are experiencing persecution, and their prayers have not brought relief.
Jerry L. Sumney
Thursday, March 14th:
- John 12: 20-33
It is not that a grain actually “dies”, but it must be placed in the soil (“falls into the earth”) in order to germinate and grow into a new stalk of wheat that yields many more grains…Life does not end with death but emerges by the way of death. If this is the self-giving path of Jesus, so it will be for this followers. As the Son does his Father’s bidding, even to the point of death. Jesus’ servants must relinquish the life that the world offers them in order to gain the life that is imperishable and honoured by God.
Diane G. Chen
Friday, March 15th:
In order to rise
from its own ashes
A phoenix
First
Must
Burn.
It was an apt Earthseed verse, but not a very comforting one. The problem with Earthseed has always been that it isn’t a very comforting belief system.
Octavia Butler, Parable of the Talents
