A Lenten Pilgrimage 2023

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April 1, 2023

April 01, 2023

Reading: Ezekiel 37:21b-28 One verse from today’s passage in Ezekiel – verse 23 – stands out as a succinct articulation of a persistent hope in the Lenten season. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. This verse speaks to personal forgiveness, the promise of divine grace, and a resurrection of individual purpose for anyone grappling with failures or personal disappointments. Contemplating the promise of God’s grace, and the hope of redemption, I often am brought to the example of John Profumo. Those of us “of a certain age” may remember that name from a fading era of British politics. After distinguished service in the Second World

March 31, 2023

Chief Mountain Alberta Be redeemed of what hurts you and blessed by what makes you whole. Let old memories of sorrow drift away onto the gray waters and watch green life rise out of the ancient ground of love. Turn away from fear and walk toward the light that makes all things clear. Stand against the wrong and embrace what is right, knowing that death will never prevail when life enters the sanctuary of your heart . -Steven Charleston, Author, Native American Elder Choctaw Nation, Indigenous Episcopal Bishop John 10:31-42 First Nations Version The tribal leaders became furious and picked up stones to kill him. Creator Sets Free ( Jesus) stood his ground and said to them, “I have done many good things, representing my Father. For which of these do you mean to stone me?” They answered, “not for any good thing you have done, but for speaking lies against the Great Spirit. How can you, a weak human being, represent yourself as the Great Spir

March 30, 2023

When I agreed to write a Lenten reflection for 2023, the first thing I did was to revisit the meaning and origin of the word Lent. I learned that the origin of the word is old English/Germanic, and among other things means lengthen, as in the lengthening of days during the season. Before even looking at the related readings, this resonated deeply with me. I am getting to an age now where lengthening my time here becomes a matter of greater interest than it has been in years past. Aging brings the realization that our time is as limited as it is precious. Only then did I turn my eye to the readings, when verse 4 of Genesis chapter 17 caught my eye; “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.” Immediately my memory turned to that cold December night last century when I became a parent. I certainly wasn’t thinking of fathering many nations, but like Abraham, I was delighted and grateful to be a father. And as God said to Abraha

March 29, 2023

Veggie Tales, “Stand up for what you believe in” Daniel 3:13-28 Psalm 24: 1-6, Romans 10:14-21 John 8: 31-47 Every time I read the story in Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego - I remember Veggie Tales. “Rack, Shack and Benny” were the names of the characters who we meet in the passage from Daniel. To my great delight the video can still be found on YouTube (see end of post for video) In a very boppy song toward the end of the video (with dancing peas and a catchy tune) we hear the words, “Stand up, for what you believe in (believe in)…. God, (He’s the one to back you up), will stand with you.” (I am singing it out loud as I type, I know, great image). While we see in the Gospel for today people arguing about who are God’s people, there is no doubt to Rack, Shack and Benny in the book of Daniel. They can identify clearly who they are, who their God is and where they should draw the line. It’s actually pretty astounding. They speak so plainly and with

March 28, 2023

The Bronze Serpent They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, [ a ] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

March 27, 2023

Mariotto Albertinelli - The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel (c. 1510) Jeremiah 24: 1-3 1 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord . 2 One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. 3 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.” One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life happened when I was in grad school at Regent College. I was taking an “Arts and Theology” class where we looked at the interplay between our creative abilities and living out our faith in Jesus Christ. The assignments f