Some might say that this world is in a mell of a hess. With war in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East, not to mention all the rancor and polarization at home, we are acutely aware of the mess. With around the clock news we are reminded of all the messes incessantly. The problems are overwhelming! But when in the world has it been any different? In the words of Billy Joel, “We didn’t start the fire // It was always burning, since the world’s been turning.” Only, Billy Joel doesn’t have it quite right. It hasn’t always been burning, though it has been for a long time. It began burning when our first parents took a bite out of the forbidden fruit. And although you and I may not have started it, we have each contributed to the flame. The question is: Is there a way out of this mess? … The answer is YES, and the Gospel Lesson shows us the way…
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Grace Notes 2024-03-06When it comes to God’s giving and entrusting the Ten Commandments to Moses and Israel, I am impressed that the Lord’s first words are a word of grace. They begin this way in Exodus 20:2, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” In other words, God names, claims, rescues, and redeems Israel before they even hear of the Ten Commandments or have an opportunity to keep them. And I am reminded that we are named, claimed, rescued, and redeemed at Baptism, and with many of us when we were too young to remember.
This year for our Lenten Midweek Services I will be sharing a series of teachings and meditations on the Ten Commandments. I have given the series the title: The Ten Commandments Preach Repentance. With four Wednesdays left until Holy Week, I will need to find a way to divide the ten commands into four groupings.
There is a longstanding tradition in the Church of observing the Season of Lent by focusing on spiritual disciplines taught by God’s Word. Such disciplines are important all year long, but for forty days they may receive special attention. Not the least of these disciplines is that of repentance. And it is good when we recognize this exercise as being embedded in the gift of Holy Baptism, and as a way of living out the implications of that gift. In our Lutheran Confessional understanding we continue to repent all through our lives in this age.