Lent March 1, 2015
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’—Mark 8:31-33
The word, “exceptional” has been tossed about recently by politicians as being the word of choice to describe the history of the United States. It bothered me the first time I heard it, but I could not tell you why. And then it came to me. I think our founders started something to some extent based on the teachings of Jesus that is better viewed as the standard for all not the exception for the elite. To me that translates into more responsibility regarding our neighbors whom Jesus expanded to include even those living at the ends of the earth. Our founders declared that All men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.* All are God’s children and God wants the very best for each of us.
Jesus did say: From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. (Luke 12:48b) I do think that we citizens of the United States who are Christians need to take this to heart when we are practicing our citizenship, because there are millions of people throughout the world who do not have the opportunity to experience life as one who was created equal. Many of them live right here in the USA.
Perhaps our scripture today is telling us that we need to set our minds on divine things, too.
Prayer: Lord, remove the temptation from our lives that leads us away from your way. Guide us in applying the many resources that you have made available to us to help those who hunger for either food or righteousness or both. Amen.
*The Declaration of Independence, See at: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ 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.