Lent is Coming
We are rapidly moving towards Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22nd. This is the season that most challenges us to reflect on our faith and renew our commitment to follow Jesus. Once again I want to invite you to participate with me in Lenten reflections that challenge us to take our following of Jesus more seriously.
Last year our theme was: Following Jesus What Difference Does it Make. The theme for this year is: Easter is Coming – What Do We Hunger and Thirst For?
When reading Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings. a couple of years ago, I came across this quote by Caesarius of Arles (470 – 543) in a reflection on Exodus 17: 1-7. It profoundly impacted. Do we really thirst for justice or are we satisfied with water? Do we hunger for righteousness or are we satisfied with bread? If we do really hunger and thirst after justice ad righteousness, how is that lived out in our lives?
For what did the people thirst? What then does the scripture mention in what follows? “In their thirst for water the people grumbled against Moses.” Perhaps this word that he said may seem superfluous, that the people thirsted for water. For since he said “In their thirst” what need was there to add “for water”? Thus indeed the ancient translation has it. Why did he add this, except because they thirsted for water when they should have thirsted for justice? ”Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice.” and again “thirsty is my soul for the living God.” Many people are thirsty, both the just and sinners, the former thirst after justice, the latter after dissipation The just are thirsty for God; sinners for gold. For this reason the people thirsted after water when they should have thirsted after justice.
The guidelines for the guest posts are simple. Please write an article of 500 – 800 words. If you have a blog, post your article there mentioning that it is part of this blog series and send me the link. If you do not have a blog but would like to contribute please email your article. I will post a new article each day with links to the appropriate blogs. Each couple of weeks I will post a complete list of posts that I have received with links to the appropriate blogs. I ask that you also post this on your own blog.
With your post please include a 2-3 sentence bio and any photos that you want included. Alternatively leave a comment at the end of this post.
10 comments
I will take the theme topic as encouragement and confirmation to participate. Just this morning (a few minutes ago) me, my wife, and my son were talking about some reflection questions from a devotional study we are doing. One of our devotional questions was; “What do you most long for?” –> I’m in. I will contact Lindsey through the email you have provided.
Jeff wonderful. You are on my list from last year so should get an email from Lyndsay later in the day. You might want to wait and reply to that.
I would love to participate too. Your question drew me in, completely.
I would love to participate. I assume Lindsay will contact me. Blessings!
Ash Wednesday has begun and the journey of dying to self….
I was inspired and drawn to the theme for this year and would love to take part in the conversations.
Maba
Wonderful I look forward to reading your contribution
The idea of placing Jesus into a modern setting and putting a classic parable into modern context has been in my head for a while, but this is the first time I’ve tried it. It’s also the first time I’m connecting a post to a wider group project, a series coordinated by Godspace called “Getting Ready for Lent—What Do We Hunger and Thirst For?” Here’s the link: http://new-wood.blogspot.com/2012/02/good-samaritan-reboot.html
Thanks David – I will send this on to our intern at msaintern@gmail.com Could you also send her a 2-3 sentence bio to go with it.
why does the link to the Lenten Guide no longer work?
Dinah we have expanded and updated the Lenten guide and added other Lenten resources too which can be accessed here. http://msainfo.us/resources/#!/Lenten-Resources/