Readings from the Daily Lectionary
New Testament: Matthew 27:57-66
Epistle: 1 Peter 4:1-8
In the thirty-seventh verse of the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes,
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes that,
"This is the question God addresses to you: All that I have done for you and you live as if nothing had happened! You submit to sin and the fear of death as if they could still enslave you! Why is there so little victory in your lives?
"Because you won’t believe that Jesus is victor over death and sin, victor over your life. It is your unbelief that leads to your defeats. But now Jesus' victory is proclaimed to you once again, today.... It is victory over sin and death for you, too, whoever you may be. Take hold of it in belief.
"Today Jesus will once again forgive you all your serious and multiple sins, he will make you wholly pure and innocent, and from now on, you won’t have to sin anymore; sin won’t have to rule over you anymore.
"Jesus will rule over you, and he is stronger than every temptation. In the hour of your temptation, and in your fear of death, Jesus will conquer you, and you will acknowledge that Jesus has become victor over your sin, over your death.
"As often as you give up this belief you will flounder and be defeated, sin an die; as often as you lay hold of this belief, Jesus will have the victory."
Let us pray:
Help us, Jesus, to overcome the defeatism- -the faithlessness--that keeps us from claiming the holiness your cross has earned for us.
In the fifth verse of the sixth chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans, he writes,
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."
Henri Nouwen writes that,
"Once we have begun to completely offer our wounded selves to God, all our wounds become signs of hope, as the wounds of Jesus were for the doubting Thomas.
"Once God has touched us in the midst of our struggles and has created in us the burning desire to be forever united with him, we will find the courage and confidence to prepare his way and to invite all who share our life to wait with us during this short time for the day of complete joy.
"With this new courage and new confidence we can strengthen each other with the hopeful words of Paul to Titus:
'God's grace has been revealed and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions;
'we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in the present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.'"
Let us pray:
Lord, we know that we do not deserve to be counted among those who await your coming, but you have called us and our hearts are joyful. Your grace has been with us on this journey through Lent. Amen.
Posted by John
at 7:42 AM CST
Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 2006 4:02 PM CST
