Devotion for the Fourth Week of Lent

In the creation story, humankind is given a special place in the world. God breathed the breath of life into humankind. That breath of life was not shared with any other part of creation.

This special relationship we have with God is based upon grace. Grace is sometimes a hard thing to define, so instead of trying to define it, I am going to share a story.

This story is about a man named Bob. Now Bob was one of those men who began to lose his hair and an early age, so by the time he and his wife had their twins, Peter and Sally, he was completely bald. Bob was, and still is, a delightful person. He loves his wife, his children and his extended family. One night he and his wife decided to go out to dinner and hired a baby sitter to take care of their little children.

While they were gone, the baby sitter got interested in a television program and was not watching the children very carefully. Their little boy Peter, got a hold of his father's electric shaver and shaved a big racing stripe right down the middle of his head.

When his father came home, he was furious. He said, "Peter! I told you never to play with my shaver. Now you are going to get a spanking that you will never forget!" Peter was just about to get a spanking when Peter looked up at his dad and said, "Wait until you see Sally!" Bob and his wife were horrified.

They went into the next room and there was their little daughter with her hair shaved off. By this time Bob was really furious. He grabbed up Peter and said, "Now you are really going to get it."

Just as he lifted his hand Peter looked up at his dad, with tears in his eyes, and said, "But Daddy! WE WERE JUST TRYING TO LOOK LIKE YOU!"
All Peter's dad could do was offer his son a hug of love and grace.

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16

Devotion for the Third Week of Lent

I would like to share with you this devotion that my friend, Rev. Marty Shanahan wrote on this week’s Gospel, John 2:13-35.

This story, "The Cleansing of the Temple", is one of the few that are shared between all four Gospel writers. The fact that it is a story shared by all four gospels, may tweak our interest in its importance, and the questions arise, is it a historical event in the life of Jesus with historical
significance or is it a historical event with metaphorical significance? There is much to ponder with regard to this story, and we could journey on many paths using it as the spring board of reflection. What I offer is but one level of understanding of one path which might flow from this wonderful story.

I wonder if by analogy and if maybe by direct correlation, if our very lives are the Temple that Jesus wishes to cleanse. Repeatedly, throughout the Christian tradition we are reminded that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and if that is so I wonder if our tradition isn't inviting us to
reflect on the 'clutter' of our Temples?

I wonder if we may have allowed our Temples to become crowed with money changers, with sheep and oxen, and doves.....all of which are good in themselves, but I wonder if Jesus isn't inviting us to make sure they are in their proper place in our lives? If the season of Lent is a time of "metanoia", a fundamental change of heart and mind; I wonder if these readings might be inviting us to ponder what we may have allowed to encroach on the Sacred Space which we all need in our lives? Given the present economic situation, I wonder if we haven't often allowed our income, or lack there of, to define our success? I wonder if our prejudices regarding homelessness, poverty, lack of health care, etc, might be being challenged and tested against what we profess as people of faith.
If we visit the Temple of our lives, if we take a snap shot of it today, what do we see?
How crowded is it and what is it that we see as essential?
What may need to be cleansed and re-ordered in us so that our holiness can be more clearly seen?