Lent

April 3, 2020

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Therefore God also highly exalted him
   and gave him the name
   that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
   every knee should bend,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father. –Philippians 2:8-11

I had never heard the term “High Christology” until I took a theology course several years ago and discovered the words to describe what I think I have always intuited. My mother I am sure planted those seeds; Christ who is Lord came to earth as a human and lived among us. Later I was influenced by the books of Hebrews, John’s Gospel, and Paul’s letters. Paul spells out that understanding very well in the poetry of Philippians 2:5-11.

I am a child of the 60’s. Civil rights, the war in Vietnam, the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, and The Sound of Silence all ran together sweeping through my consciousness and blended with my long-held faith that when two or three are gathered together the Lord is with us*. As I look back on those days and see what is happening among my peers and others, I wonder if some became disillusioned with our vision for justice because they lack the sense of the Lord being at the table with us.

While we long for a world filled with mercy and justice, we must work with persistence to make the changes necessary for that to happen. Making changes in our own hearts and minds is hard. Walking with others as they face and make needed changes in their lives is challenging. I do not know if it is even possible without the abiding love of God, the model of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit accompanying us. But I trust that the day will come when all will be nourished by the love of God.
when every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, rekindle in us the experience of breaking bread with you at the table of life with Christ. Amen.

*Matthew 18:20

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.