Friday - April 1

Daily Readings for Friday, April 1, 2011

• Morning Psalms 22; 148
• First Reading Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-17
• Second Reading Romans 6:1-11
• Gospel John 8:33-47
• Evening Psalms 105; 130

Romans 6:1-2: ^"What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? ²By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?"

John 8:37 b:  "...because there is no place in you for my word."

I'm really enjoying the fact that the daily lectionary is working through the book of Romans because it seems like each little bit is packed with great stuff. Roman's really is a great theological read.

In chapter six, Paul is wrestling with the question of sin and grace. It is true, according to Jesus that grace covers all manner of sin. Every sin, big or small (if there really is such a distinction; in many ways sin is sin; our culture frequently elevates certain sins (like sexual misconduct in our current context), but I think to God, sin is anything that works to separate us from God, God's will and perfect desire for our life, and I believe God counts sin as sin, one is not greater or more grevious than another)...every sin, big or small is covered by the grace of Jesus Christ as his atoning death. So, Paul asks, should we sin bigger so that God's grace can be bigger? Should we continue to sin so that God's grace can continually be given to us?

Most certainly not. Once we have God's grace and recognize that we are forgiven, our response to live more aligned with God's will in our lives.

In seminary, I got to spend a January term class "following in the footsteps of Paul." Our class travelled to Greece and Turkey, visiting some historical places that Paul walked and lived. We visited places like Ephesus and Athens, Greece. One of the places that we visited was a ruin of a 2nd or 3rd century church. On the floor of the sanctuary was a built in baptismal font. It was built in the shape of the cross and was big enough to climb into and stand (to be "dunked" by the preacher). The arms of the cross were oriented to face East-West. Initiates entered from the West - symbolic of death - the west is where the day "dies." After being baptized, the newly received member rises out of the pool of water and the cross in the East - symbolic of new life. We were able to walk down into the font and one of my favorite pictures from the trip is doing a dance with my friend Ann and "dipping her" in the cross...pause for the camera.

The physical act of submerging oneself is a tangible way to be reminded of the theolgical truth that we die to ourselves and our rasied to new life through our relationship with Jesus Christ. That new life is marked by abundant grace and a new person - the old has gone, new life has come into being.

I also wanted to include the phrase in Jesus' answer in the John gospel reading: "because there is no place in you for my word." I don't really know what to make out of that, but I hope that in my own life, I am humble enough to make the room and space to listen and discern and wait for God to speak to me so that God's word can continue to dwell in my heart and be used to continue to refine me in God's image.

Dear God, thank you for grace. Help me to continue to learn to trust in that grace. Whenever I am prone to sin, I ask that your spirit continue to be at work in my life so that I might quickly repent and turn back to you. Make room in my heart for your life-giving word, your son, and your spirit. In Christ's name - Amen.

P.S. It's opening day for the Royals! Go Royals! (and yes, I am aware that this might be the only day my team has a winning record for the rest of the season!)