Monday

Genesis 8: 20 – 9:7

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

"As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease."

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.

"Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made man.

"As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."

Noah hadn’t just brought two of each animal onto the ark. He’d also brought seven – or maybe seven pairs – of every kind of animal suitable for sacrifice. All Noah’s doing in the beginning of this passage is offering God some of the animals he’d brought on the ark for that purpose. The sacrifice was little more than an RSVP.

For that, God promises that He’ll never flood the earth again. Then He goes further: He gives Noah and his family everything that lives for their use. All God requires is that they remember that He holds all life: the blood is His.

How does this relate to me? I am – whether figuratively or literally descended from Noah -- to be a good manager of all life under my care. But more importantly, I must remember that all life belongs to God, including mine.

When Noah sacrificed a few animals that God had told him to bring for that very purpose, God blessed him and his family. Lent reminds us that God Himself has always provided the sacrifice – from grain or an animal on the altar to His Son – that brings us life and abundance.

Saturday

Matthew 5: 43 – 48

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs is a pretty decent basketball player, the current leader in 3 point shooting (a percentage of .497, making half of his outside the perimeter shots). That’s the best NBA has to offer?

In professional football, Dave Dickenson of the Calgary Stampeders had a 74 percent passing completion record (hitting his man three our of four times).

A baseball player is a sensation if he hits four out of ten times at the plate.
We have high expectations of professional athletes who are paid big money to play their respective games. If they are successful more than half of the time, they’re usually considered to be excellent.

What does Jesus say God expects of us? Nothing less than perfection. A win every time. To always be kind to every family member, fellow worker and stranger on the street.

So how are you doing? If there was a team of Moral Athletes, would you be drafted? I know I wouldn’t. But that is what this season of Lent is about. A time to remember that we don’t measure up to the standards of moral excellence. That’s why we look forward to Good Friday and Easter.

anonymous

Friday

Matthew 5: 38 – 42

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

How many times do we seek revenge against those who wrong us? Perhaps we don’t call it revenge, but somewhere in the back in the back of our minds we definitely think “I’m going to have to get him back for that.”

In this passage, Jesus is extremely clear. We are NOT to seek revenge. We are to treat everyone as our brother or sister in Christ, no matter how severe their actions against us.

In 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot four times while blessing people in St. Peters’ Square in Rome. Following the shooting, the Pope asked the people to "pray for my brother (Ağca, his shooter), whom I have sincerely forgiven." John Paul was exemplifying the meaning of this passage. Someone tried to kill him, so he answered by praying for him, and visiting him in jail soon after.

No matter how tempted we are to fight fire with fire, we are called to love our neighbor, no matter what his actions. We are all God’s children, and all equally needy and deserving of his salvation, no matter how often we attend church, how hard we pray, or how long we fast.

AM

Thursday

Matthew 5: 33 – 37

Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

This passage is from the Sermon on the Mount, the title given to Jesus’ moral and ethical teaching (Matthew, chapters 5-7).

Jesus’ popularity was growing (Matthew 4:25). In the beginning of his ministry, people came because of his healing of sick persons. When Jesus began to teach, the people stayed to hear what he said. He also taught with authority and this impressed the people. Although many people heard the Sermon on the Mount, it was primarily directed to Jesus’ followers (or disciples).

In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus teaches that we should not swear at all. He says, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” An early example of an oath is found in Genesis 24:1-5, between Abraham and his chief servant regarding the selection of a wife for Isaac.

Today, in how many of the situations that we face do we say “maybe” or we lie?

WK

Wednesday

Matthew 5: 27 – 32
You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Only God

What is more important than Jesus
if you are a Jesus man or woman?
Would you rather have one hand
and walk with Jesus,
or two hands grubbing for rot?
Would you rather have one eye
looking at Jesus,
or two eyes looking at filth?
Jesus is the fairest of the fair,
the purest of the pure,

If you give up groping for darkness,
what have you gained?

You have gained Life and beauty
and my best friend.

EE

Tuesday

Matthew 5: 21 – 26

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day taught that the sixth commandment only forbade actual murder. Buddhism calls anger one of the five hindrances. Psychologists often view anger as a primal emotion that should not be suppressed lest it find another outlet. The internet has sites where users can express anger for Republicans, Democrats, husbands, wives, fat people, skinny people, employers… you get the picture. There were funny posts, outrageous posts and incredibly profane posts, but most were a sad expression of bloggers allowing their own anger to ruin their lives.

At first glance, it seems that the sixth commandment is centered on protecting others. In this passage, Jesus instructs us, not to suppress our anger, but to resolve our disputes. Unrelenting anger may cost us money, time or worse. When our exasperation becomes anger, love turns to apathy. We blame others for our problems, and our anger becomes depression.

Here Jesus provides both the practical and the deeper answer. He challenges us to make the first move, to act with responsibility and dignity toward others. Our behavior, in turn, alters our negative feelings towards our enemies. We can repair broken friendships, business partnerships and family relations. The sixth commandment protects us.

KVG

Monday

Matthew 5: 17 – 20

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ coming is the completion of The Old Testament’s prophecy. Jesus is not God’s new and improved brand of religion.

The Law has not changed one iota since its inception. The purpose of the Law is to help people love God with all their hearts and minds. The Apostle Paul wrote that God’s Law shows us our inadequacy to achieve salvation by our own merit.

God’s Law is unique compared to other laws of Moses’ time. It is applied equally regardless of position and or power. All crimes are crimes against God as all people are created in God’s image. It’s not hidden - everyone can know the Law. It is universal; applying to all people. Lastly, it is constructive. It shows people how to love God with all their minds and hearts. None of this changed when Jesus came.

The Pharisees had certificates of learning and became authorities on proper behavior. The portion of their lives they displayed was always spotless, while other parts secreted sins. They knew the law but didn’t have God in their hearts. If God’s goodness is in our hearts it will show in our motives, actions, and continuing thoughts. Jesus’ perfection allows God’s grace to cover our shortcomings.

AJ