3rd Sunday of Lent

Our readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (cycle B) are:

1. Exodus 20: 1-17
2. Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 11
3. 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25
4. John 2: 13-25

1. Rules to live by
• Do you think that there is a common thread running through all of the 10 commandments?
• Why do you think that they are so hard to live by?
• Do you think that God was doing us any favors by giving us those commandments?
• Day to day, how is it that faith in Christ helps us live by those?
2. The Law of the Lord is clear
• Have you ever struggled for clarity from God, really wondered what it was that He had in mind for you?
• What made it hard to achieve that clarity?
• How did you finally find the peace that you were seeking?
3. Humility just doesn't make sense
• Can you think of anyone that you've known who was truly humble?
• How did their life impact those around them?
• Do you think that humility is something that we can work on ourselves, is it pure gift, or some sort of combination of the above?
• Why is humility so hard?
4. That wasn't quite the intent ...
• The temple had become corrupted in practice.  The people had lost their focus on true worship, and became focused on things that supported that worship.
• Have you ever seen that sort of corruption elsewhere?
• Who is responsible for calling that sort of corruption out, holding us accountable for the real reason for what we do, who we are?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. When was the last time that I prayed to God for a clear picture of where I have missed my chance to draw closer to Him?
2. What am I doing to build my trust, the strength of my faith, in God?
3. Am I willing to be seen as impractical, even foolish because I'm following Jesus?
4. If someone is looking for the presence of God in their lives, are they likely to think of me?

One God

When you got right down to it, a world with lots of gods can be comforting.
In their own chaotic way, they are more immanent, easier to touch.

If your village economy is based on the grain harvest, a wheat god makes sense.
Someone to look out for you, defend you against all the uncertainty of rain and sun.

If the rain god is particularly displeased with you and a drought smites the land,
You can take comfort that there is a struggle between the gods over you.

If there's only one god, and bad things happen, you're forced to ask serious questions.
Does this one, all supreme being not care about what is befalling His people?

Or do these capricious storms, earthquakes, fires and floods come to test us?
Are all the calamities in life the fallout of original sin in the world?

Is there some higher purpose to Alzheimers and other calamities in life?
Is it presumtuous of us to even ask what the higher purpose, the ultimate reason is?

And if there is a purpose to it all, what should be our part in the those events?
What sort of partnership are we called to as creation continues to unfold?

Shalom!