THE BIBLE – TODAY’S TREASURE HUNT
COMMENT FOR LENT 2 – 12-03-06
Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16
In the dangerous world of the desert nomad with male values dominating his experience, Abraham and his God dreamed together. Then in faith he takes one step after another believing this is the course his tribal God wants of him. There will be more than a name change in this faith journey.
Psalm 22: 23-31
The opening words of this psalm are those Jesus used when feeling the depths of abandonment while on the cross. But our section is one of those “hope in spite of everything” statements. This is based on the belief that the spiritual care of God is for the poor and afflicted living now; the yet unborn; and those of the past whom we may forget, but are not forgotten by God.
Romans 4: 13-25
Paul is writing to the Gentile Christians in Rome who he plans to visit. He tells the epic faith story of Abraham and Sarah, the founders of the Hebrew people and religion. He argues that Jesus continues the faith story offering the free grace of God to every person with the spiritual sensitivities to understand and receive it.
Mark 8: 31-38
We can imagine Peter’s problem. The big fisherman was a survivor living in the real world where people wanted an end to Roman occupation and the establishment of a Jewish state. He was thoroughly alarmed at Jesus’ talk of rejection and death. When Mark wrote his gospel about forty years later, he brings together the Cross and Resurrection, showing how Jesus died proclaiming God’s good news that the death of Jesus was not the end.
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