the 3rd sunday in lent
the PRAYER …
Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
the READING …
[Jesus] asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?” luke 13:1-9
the DEVOTION …
Things hadn’t been right for a while. Mom was getting forgetful. Acting differently. Quieter. More distant. Then, at age 58, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Things went downhill pretty quickly, after that. She spent most of those last years just pacing. Wandering. At home. At the shop. I’ll never forget when a longtime customer – in an attempt to be compassionate, I’m sure – said, “There but for the grace of god ….”
That was the first time I understood what the words meant. “If it wasn’t for god loving US, we’d be just like HER.” Like her. And like those Galileans whose blood was mixed with their sacrifices. Like the eighteen killed when the tower fell. Fortunately, Jesus says, “That’s not how it works!” God doesn’t pick some and not others. God doesn’t punish the sinner and reward the saint. That’s not how any of this works! It isn’t a matter of better or worse. God! Simply! Loves! Rising like sunshine on both the evil and good! Falling like rain on the unrighteous, as well as on the righteous! We might want to talk in platitudes, especially when we don’t know what else to say. But maybe the best thing is to say nothing! Say nothing and just hold out our arms …