Lent
March 17, 2023
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’
People in the USA, the world probably, seem to be bogged down in unfruitful works of darkness. There is so much need in our country and in the world that calls to be addressed, but we seem to be caught as a nation and state in issues that are really none of our business as we strive to address the Common Good, for example, Making private health decisions outside of medical advice.
Also, much time and energy are being invested in what books children should read in school with the concern that some sinister group is trying to indoctrinate students into a defined way of being. It appears to me that the only people trying to indoctrinate anyone are those complaining–teach their way or ban the books. School librarians have been selecting age-appropriate books for children to read for years. One of my aunts dedicated her life to that. She nor none of her co-workers would ever have done anything to bring harm to a child. She did work hard at doing things to encourage children to read, which is particularly important for disadvantaged students whose primary opportunity to learn more about the world is from books.
As advocates for justice, we are called to protect the rights of children to fulfill their potential, as God created them, not to fulfill our personal belief systems.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. –2 Timothy 2:15
Prayer:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise*. Amen.
First verse of Hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier see at https://hymnary.org/text/dear_lord_and_father_of_mankind#Author
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.