Lent 2014
March 18, 2014

 Read Scripture: Romans 4:6-13 

Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, ‘Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.’ How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised. –Romans 4:9-13 

Twenty-first century Christians probably do not care who has been circumcised and who has not. Actually, we probably think it is an invasion of privacy. To first century followers of Christ, it was important because most first century followers of Christ were Jewish and circumcision had been required by law for them since the days of Abraham. Following Jesus’ command these followers began to take the message of Jesus to “the ends of the earth” and that meant to the uncircumcised. Great controversy arose and Paul’s letter to the Romans is his diplomatic way of addressing this issue. Paul’s solution was to go back to the beginning and see that Abraham received his blessing before he was circumcised. Paul did not discount the ritual of circumcision; he simply says that it is important for those for whom it was commanded but among those for whom no command had been made it was not necessary. 

While circumcision may not matter greatly to us today there are other words that could be substituted that would divide us as much as the first century Christian had been divided—minority/white, rich/poor, gay/straight, male/female, athlete/scholar, bully/victim, children with parents that can help/those with parents who cannot, English/another language.  It could be a very long list. Our school systems are not immune from these polar biases and the results of these biases can dramatically impact students’ learning. Much of our educational time and resources must be targeted at overcoming the byproducts of attitudes as well as the byproducts of the reality of life. More and more children are living in single parent homes, homes where all parents work, or with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, or foster parents. We actually live in a world where speaking two languages is a plus on one’s resume. Is there some way we could turn Multilanguage instruction into a plus for all students? By learning to respect differences can we shape a future workforce that is more productive incorporating multifaceted talents? How can the church contribute to making our society one as we strive for the whole world becoming one in Christ? 

Prayer: Lord, make us one. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.