The Lenten Journey Day 15

In today’s reading Emil Brunner reflects on the implications of 1 Cor. 1:23 where the cross is called a “stumbling block,” and “foolishness.” The main reason for this, Brunner asserts, is our own self-seeking sin.

I would like to reflect on this quote from Brunner. “But God has in his mercy shown us a different way. ‘You cannot come up to me, so I will come down to you,’ And God descends to us human beings. This act of becoming one of us begins at Christmas and ends on Good Friday.”

During advent we think a lot about the incarnation, about Christ coming to us on earth. But, as Brunner is bringing to light, earth was not far enough. The incarnation had to go to the depths of death to fully account for our sin. As I process God and his relationship with His creation I think, “He is in Heaven and God, that demands my attention, but then He came to earth that should be enough, but then He went to the extent of death.” Death, separation from God and the end of life, is the final frontier of our sinful reality. Christ conquered all things to redeem all. He has becoming one of us, so that He would be the only one for us.

The Lenten Journey Day 14

Today’s reading comes from Fleming Rutledge. Rutledge draws an interesting correlation between one’s view of the cross and of their own sin. She supposes two characters, one of whom is greatly disturbed by the image of Christ on the cross and the other who wants to dismiss the ghastly idea of Christ crucified altogether. Rutledge never makes a distinction between a feeling of embarrassment at the cross and the reality of being deeply moved by the cross and the difficulty with accepting it. She, instead focuses exclusively on the first part in order to bring home the point that to be embarrassed by the cross is to ignore the real need for Christ’s death.

It is really the heart of the issue. Do we avoid Christ on the cross because we do not want to deal with depth of our sin? We will readily admit, for the most part, that we are imperfect. But as Rutledge points out, we are not always ready to admit the depth of our sin. One aspect of this that I see is that sometimes there is a tendency to wallow in our sin. What the cross calls us to is to recognize our sin and leave it.

The following passage gets to the heart of Rutledge’s point and the depth of the cross and our sin.

How do we measure the size of a fire? By the number of firefighters and fire engines sent to fight against it. How do we measure the seriousness of a medical condition? But the amount of risk the doctors take in prescribing dangerous antibiotics or surgical procedures. How do we measure the gravity of sin and the incomparable vastness of God’s love for us? By looking at the magnitude of what God has done for us in Jesus, who became like a common criminal for our sake and in our place.

The Lenten Journey Day 13

The writer of today’s essay, Phillip Berrigan, was a former Catholic Priest and an outspoken anti-war activist. His writing certainly evokes thoughtful consideration. In this article he is reflecting on Mark’s account in which Jesus warns of being prepared on the Day of The Lord. He tells His followers to, “watch.” Berrigan then speaks of several Scriptural passages that call readers to watch and pay attention. He points to the narrative of Jesus and three of his disciples at Gethsemane where he pleads for them to stay awake while He prays. They fall asleep three times.

“Psychological studies reveal that Americans live in 40% awareness.” Berrigan does not provide reference for this study but it is not necessarily hard to believe. We get caught in our routines and in our tunnel vision view of the world.

“Watch the words of others, since God often speaks to us through sisters and brothers.” How often do we really pay attention to what others are telling us? Moreover, how often do we the Holy Spirit’s counsel through the words of others. Not everything everyone says is a word from God, but if we are not ‘watchful’ we miss insightful truths being communicated.

“Watch, learn, act- the formula for a full, sane life.” It is not one of the Scriptures Berrigan uses but this line makes me think of a well-known Proverb, “Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!” -Proverbs 6:6. Solomon’s pithy advice has specific applications but we should not miss the general imperatives. Go and consider are important actions on our journey. Let us be alert to what God may in fact be telling us. Then may we follow through.

The Lenten Journey Day 12

J. Heinrich Arnold’s essay on “The Center” adds a needed dimension to the discussion of self-denial and following the cross of Christ. The cross is the necessary sacrifice says Arnold, and in it's ugliness the complete love of Chris is displayed. It is that complete love that must be replicated in and through His disciples. Arnold says this, “ The experience of personal purification at the cross is vital, yet to remain focused on that alone would be useless. Christ’s love is so great , it must lift our minds above our little struggles-and any preoccupation with our own salvation- so that we can see the needs of others, and beyond that the greatness of God and his Creation.”

It was, after all, the needs of others, of all of humanity that were met on the cross. Yes He was obedient to the Divine mission. But the mission was the redemption of fallen humanity, forgiveness is our greatest need. Arnold adds that forgiveness comes as a result of the cross but that the cross also allows that beyond forgiven we be changed. Changed for what? Changed to live in intimacy with God, yes. Also changed to change the world around us. The cross carries us beyond ourselves to completely loving those around us.

The Lenten Journey Day 11

The reading for today is written by Soren Kierkeggard and is a sharp distinction between followers of Christ and admirers. The following sums up Kierkeggard’s distinction, “ A follower is or strives to be what he admires. An admirer, however, keeps himself personally detached.”

The context of the essay seems at first to be a call of encouragement to those living under the prohibition of publicly confessing Christ. Kierkegarrd then pivots to those living in free countries and identifies the same temptation of merely appreciating Christ’s teaching and example without adhering to them. “Forget about the danger with confessing Christ and think rather of the real danger which is inescapably bound up within being a Christian.”

The one issue I would take with this writing is that Nicodemus is paired with Judas in giving Biblical examples of admirers. I would argue that the account of Nicodemus showing up at Christ’s burial is at least enough to at least consider that he may have became a follower. Nonetheless, this detail should not distract from the challenge.

What a question! Do I admire Christ only or do I follow Him? There is really no cost to admiration, no need for self denial. Following is what incurs the ups and downs of sacrifice amid keeping Christ as the goal and motivation.