Lent

February 24, 2023

Scripture Reading:

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,
‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
   and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

At the beginning of each new session of the Oklahoma State Legislature, 3,000 or so bills are introduced or carried over from the previous year for consideration. In 2022, 410 of them became laws. Many of the first bills include specific, often controversial ones that are more designed to define the author’s political views in preparation for the next election. Many are what I call distraction bills designed to keep the public stirred up about hot-button issues that neither promote citizens’ general welfare nor provide for the Common Good. Paul’s description of his life reminded me of that. He and his fellow apostles put up with a lot so that 2000 years later, we are blessed with knowing about the love of God demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and continues in our everyday lives with the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are called to continue that quest today, enabling the next generations to continue the work needed to build the beloved community.

Lent is a time to reevaluate how we invest our energies in fulfilling that quest and refocus on what matters.

Prayer: Lord, during these 40 days of Lent, walk with us through the wilderness of our world today and help us reclaim your vision for our lives. Amen.

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.