Second Sunday In Lent: What Is Your Cross?


Lectionary passages for this week:  Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, Mark 9:2-9.
Giving up something for Lent maybe be difficult, but it (generally) is a small sacrifice It is a   a symbolic gesture which reflects this passage from Mark:   "He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

We all carry our own personal crosses.  Our burdens might be physical, mental, spiritual or any number of other things.  Heavy or light, they can wear us down over time.  But whatever your cross might be, it's important to remember that you are not alone.  No one need carry their cross by themselves.  And I mean this in more than the metaphorical way.  Yes, God is always there for us as it says in Matthew 11:  . “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" and Isaiah 41:  For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you."  As much as God has made each of us unique, we are also cut from the same cloth and no matter what your burden might be there IS someone out there who may not be able to remove it, but can ease it. Whether you pray for guidance or turn to Google to find an answer, know that while you may symbolically carry a cross this Lenten season, you need not walk alone with your troubles.  Help is there, perhaps even in amazing ways that we had never considered.

When you are troubled, know that the Lord is there to listen and that God has placed angels among us to guide us, if not to peace, then at least to a place of rest.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more