A Daily Lent

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Daily Reading : Matthew 5:17 – 19 Focus Passage : "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matt. 5:17) Many contemporaries of Jesus would have heard these words and fought for a more rigid code by which to live. It is can be a good thing to have a code of ethics which orders life, distilling life down to some fundamental rules to keep and regulations to follow. I am among the many who want someone to tell me what the rules are and what is expected of me. Then, I can work toward doing all the right things, thus bringing happiness and fulfillment. In my mentality, if you can show me what the expectations are, I can work to meet or exceed them. I can be a very accomplished rules-keeper! But rules-keeping is not to be confused with a full and authentic life. In fact, in my efforts to do right by the regulations, I may in fact miss what is deepest and most...

Saturday after Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2015 ABBA SILVANUS AND HIS DISCIPLE ZACHARIAS visited a monastery. The monks invited them to share a small meal before they continued their journey. Departing, Zacharias saw a pond by the road and desired a drink of water. Silvanus reminded him that they were observing a fast that day. Zacharias protested, “But, Abba, we have already broken our fast today.” Silvanus replied, “We ate with them because we love them. Now that we are on our own, let’s keep our fast, my son.” [Bernard Bangley, By Way of the Desert , p. 220.] I understand the confusion Zacharias felt. We’re fasting today . . . now we’re not fasting today, but eating with the monks . . . I want a drink of water, but Abba Silvanus says I can’t drink because we’re fasting today . . . but what about the meal we just ate with those in the monastery? I’m a lot like Zacharias: If you tell me what the rules are, what is expected of me, I can usually operate within those para...

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Matthew 5:17 – 19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” The Law and the Prophets both represent the Hebrew Scriptures in general. They have, however, very different tenors about them. The Law has a strict sense of code, mandate, and obligation. The Prophets take a step forward in faith development, applying the Law to life-situations with more humanity and less rigidity. The wisdom and ethical emphasis in the Prophets represent a huge step ...

Matthew 5:43 - 44 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." "You have heard it said . . . but I say to you . . ." "You have heard it said" . . . in Jesus use of the phrase, he referred to the Hebrew scriptures and the Law of Moses. In our contemporary life, this is conventional wisdom, the structures and frameworks under which people live without question. These are cultural assumptions, even the traditional teachings of the Church. ** Competition is good. ** You have to have resolve and stand by your principles, no matter what. ** You get what you deserve. ** Success is important. ** Having a lot is better than having little. ** There have to be winners and losers. ** You make your own way in life. ** If you really believe and set your mind to it, you can do anything. ** I have to see it to believe it. "But I...

Matthew 5:17 – 19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Spiritual development, of necessity, begins with laws, rules and obligations. None of us can handle the full weight of Truth from the beginning. It is too much, too heavy, too TRUE! We have to be moved along gently, piece by piece, step by step, into the really large realities of life. Of course, we almost never see that while we’re in the midst of the movement. We tend to think, at whatever stage of the journey we find ourselves, that we...

Matthew 5:17 – 19 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Many contemporaries of Jesus would have heard these words and then fought for a more rigid code by which to live. It is popular to have a code of ethics that orders life, to distill life down to some key rules to keep and regulations to follow. I am among the many who want someone to tell me what the rules are and what is expected of me, so then I can work toward doing all the right things that will bring happiness and fulfillment. In...