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MEDITATION:

Written by Terra Pennington, a contemporary pastor.

There was grumbling. They grumbled and left. How did Jesus feel in his humanity? Did the rejection sting? No one fully knew Jesus. Did Jesus live in internal exile? No one else was like him — no one around to say, “I get it. This fully human/fully divine thing, it’s all kinds of complicated.” I recently spent time feeling “internally exiled,” away from what was familiar and doing work that was different from what others were doing. I felt that the best parts of me were often hard to see. I had grumblers. I also soon discovered a community that would come from the most surprising places. Colleagues provided a listening ear and invitations to dinner. A pastor tackled a broken system with me.  The least expected place was with a community of people who were refugees. A wise sage asked me if I felt sad. I said I feel far from everything right now. Then, realizing how much privilege I had (home was just a plane ticket away, and English was my first language), I immediately apologized. I will be fine. Then the man looked at me and said, “We are your home.” I was in the midst of the most vulnerable in our society. They embraced me with all my privilege anyway. The third day came — the women running back, the others outracing each other to get there first. Jesus had moved through internal exile via community to freedom. I have moved from my own internal exile, via finding communities in different places, and through that, on to freedom. Internal exile can be excruciating. Especially when we cannot find a community where we fit. I believe that God suffers with us. We are not alone. The Holy Spirit continues to do her work, moving us from exile to community to freedom.

PRAYER:

Written by William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a British politician, philanthropist, and leader of the movement to stop the slave trade.

Lord God, Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength and forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by David Reay, a contemporary author.

How do we sing the songs of the Lord in a strange and unwelcome land? That was what the Israelites asked when exiled in Babylon. Their temple was in ruins, they were no longer in their own God-given land. Their old way of life seemed gone forever. And to add to their despondency, their captors mocked them by insisting they sing their old familiar songs. We know from the book of Daniel that he and others like him managed to maintain their faith even in the midst of alien surroundings. God remained God, worship remained worship even though the old way of life was only a memory. We also know that those Israelites learned a thing or two in their exile. Their bitter and sad experience of defeat prompted a return to the ways of God—at least for a time. As the old saying has it, don’t let a disaster go to waste by not learning something from it. We can still sing the songs of the Lord even in exile. Places change, situations change, but our God does not. Our songs may change, but the one to whom we sing has not changed. Our service of God and his love for us does not demand a certain locality or a certain set of circumstances, helpful though these may be. Exile was not pleasant for the Israelites. But they could not just leave those harps in the poplar trees. Exile from Jerusalem was not exile from the care of God. Separation from their culture was not separation from the presence of God. The destruction of the temple did not destroy their place in the purposes of God. Exile was not the end of the story, but only one chapter in it.

PRAYER:

Written by Tiffany Montgomery, a contemporary writer.

Holy Spirit, thank you for being my shield and defender, the Lord of Hosts who fights for me and stays with me in hard times.  Forgive me for losing my first love, that fire that used to burn deep inside me driving me into your presence like a schoolgirl with her first crush.  Rekindle that fire.  Help me to long to be in Your house singing praise to You the way the Psalmist did. Remind me that You are with me in every season.  You never leave me or forsake me in hard times.  Teach me to Be Still in that truth today.  I will glorify Your Name alone Father. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Joanne Melton from the Village Church. 

When thinking about Pastor Jack’s topic of exile for the Lenten devotional, I thought I had an appropriate idea to share.  Then, on January 29, 2923, all of that changed. The Rev. Dr. Ivan Rusyn walked to the pulpit of The Village Church and graciously and humbly addressed our congregation.  His topic was the parable about “The Good Samaritan: A Ukrainian Reading  in the Light of War.”  But it was much, much more than that. You could hear the sadness in his words as he described the devastation, the ugliness of destruction, the emptiness in the eyes of his neighbors.     Despite all of that, he shared “that God always shows up where there is a problem.”  And “Jesus is present in those who offer to help, that they are like angels to them.”  Just as the Good Samaritan had done. His words, chosen so carefully, so passionately explained that in his country war had changed everything.  He asked, “How do we help?  What is our identity?”  The need to care for and love those in need came first.  As is found in Luke, “Be merciful as God is merciful.”

War is a time when you look inward.  You must personally reach into your heart and soul and say what have I to give and am I willing to give it?  It means sacrifice, and possibly the ultimate sacrifice of life. Rev. Dr. Rusyn left us with encouraging words about the people of Ukraine.  “We smile because we cried out all of our tears.  We smile because we have hope.  We ask not for peace, but for victory. We cannot be hostages of our trauma.” We can remove or exile ourselves from problems far away from us, or we can take a journey of faith and commitment to find our own way, perhaps through prayer, meditation, or study to become a Good Samaritan.

PRAYER:

Today’s prayer was written by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Lord Jesus,

You teach us in your parable that there are two kinds of people–
–those who bend down to help and those who look the other way.
Which kind of people will we be?

We say, “Yes, Lord, I will love you and love my neighbor.”
But then we ask:
The migrant… is she my neighbor?
Those in poverty…are they my neighbors?
Victims of war across the world… are they neighbors?
One who faces racism… is he my neighbor?
Those disabled or elderly… are they my neighbors?

You remind us: Yes. All of us neighbors.

Show us how to love, Lord.
May we open our eyes.
May we emerge from our comfortable isolation.
May we build a world of compassion and dignity.

Lord Jesus, who was neighbor to all,
Help us to persevere in love.
Help us to restore dignity to the suffering.

Help us to build a society based not on exclusion, but on community. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Terry Solley, a contemporary field minister caring for men on Texas death row. This is an excerpt from the book “Exiles.”

In 1995, transformation began to take place inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola – one of America’s bloodiest prisons. The prisoners there were blessed by a godly warden, Burl Cain, who felt responsible not just for their correction and safety, but also for their souls. Led by God, Warden Cain established the first accredited seminary inside a prison. Then something phenomenal took place: the men of Angola began to pray, not merely for themselves and their families, but for the prison where they lived. Two decades later, Angola is one of the safest prisons in the world and a glaring example of what the Lord will do when people, incarcerated, begin to seek His face for the prosperity of their place of exile.  As God commanded the Israelites to do during their seventy-year captivity in Babylon, and as the prisoners of Angola mirrored, we must seek the welfare of the “city” where we have been exiled. We must pray for the prisons where we live. When those of us inside these walls begin to pray, the impossible becomes possible: lives are transformed, men are saved, and prison culture is radically changed. If you want to see those around you saved, start praying. If you want to see the violence decline, start praying. If you want to see parents restored to their children, start praying. If you want to see God do the impossible right where you are, start praying! What happened at Angola can happen in any prison. All it takes are men and women who are bold enough to start praying. So, what are you waiting for?  Start Praying.

PRAYER:

Written by Sarah Swindall, a contemporary pastoral intern.

Heavenly Father, you are sovereign over all, giving justice and proclaiming liberty to the captive. You were with Joseph when he was imprisoned in the king’s jail. Your spirit visited Paul during his incarceration. And you sent your son, Jesus, to proclaim good news and freedom. God, we ask you to be with all those who are incarcerated today, for those living out sentences, and those awaiting trial or bail. Let your spirit of peace and comfort be upon them. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Mike Jantzen, a contemporary writer.

Guilt.  I feel its sting in the aftermath of the stupid choices I make. In those moments, it can feel like God is a thousand miles away and that he’s not interested in hearing how I’ve blown it again. I can get stuck in a catch-22, trying to clean myself up first before I talk to the only One who can actually purify me. When guilt causes us to avoid God, it turns into debilitating shame. We choose to live in self-imposed exile, forgetting that Jesus already put an end to our separation from him. Why waste time in exile when God is offering us a way back to freedom? The good news is that when we come to Jesus humbly, confessing our sins and re-centering our lives on him, he always cleanses us and sets us on the right path again. So, should we just sin whenever we want because God will always forgive us? Of course not. When we choose to sin, we whittle away the freedom Jesus died to give us. We live as though sin is still our master and we miss out on the abundant life God wants to give us. Offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! The message of the gospel is that every day is filled with new mercies. Today is your opportunity to turn your heart away from sin and shame and look upon Jesus, who opened the way for you to trace your steps back to the cross and have a fresh start.

PRAYER:

Written by Paige Deane, a contemporary author.

Lord, the sacrifice of your son is a precious gift. I don’t deserve it, and I could never have earned it. Thank you for your grace and mercy and love to give it to me anyway. You gave up everything for me, even though you were pure and righteous, and I am full of sin. Thank you for breaking the chains that kept me in bondage to sin. Thank you for the freedom I now have in you. I want to follow your example as your disciple. Help me to also give up everything and take up my cross. I don’t want to live in slavery to my flesh, I want to embrace the freedom that you paid for with your blood. I want to pursue my relationship with you fervently, with no attachment to the things of this world, not material things, family, jobs, money, or even my life. Help me to take up my cross daily. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Roger Martin, from the Village Church.  Roger volunteers with Free to Thrive, a legal organization that supports those impacted by human trafficking.

Sarah (not her real name) grew up in an abusive household where family members regularly molested her. At the age of 14, after running away from home, she met a young man who promised to take care of her and give her a place to stay.  At first, he was very kind to her. But soon, he demanded that she pay for rent and food.  He bought her a fake ID and forced her strip and perform sex acts for customers at a local strip club each night.  During the day, he would force her to walk the West Hollywood streets. Over the next 10 years, she was arrested and charged with prostitution a half-dozen times, both as a minor and as an adult, serving time for crimes she was forced to commit.  She never would reveal her pimp’s identity to the police for fear of what he would do to her. Her shame and hopelessness isolated her from everyone.  Her criminal record prevented her from getting a job or renting an apartment herself.  She tried to leave her pimp twice, but he threatened her younger brother, so she returned to him and resigned herself to “the life.”  She was truly, inescapably in exile. In 2018, Sarah was again arrested for prostitution.  But the arresting officer knew of a faith-based safe house recovery program and diverted her to it.  Showing God’s love for her, they got her the help and support she needed to leave her pimp and vouched for her to get a job in a special work program.  Today, Sarah has completed her college degree and is working as a security guard at night.  But she is still victimized by her criminal record every time a potential employer or government agency does a background check.  A team of attorneys is currently working to get her criminal record cleared under new California laws that provide relief for survivors of sex trafficking.  Soon, with God’s help, her journey out of exile will be complete.

PRAYER:

Today’s prayer is from World Vision, an organization that works with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Dear Lord, just as You helped Moses and Aaron as they spoke boldly to Pharaoh on behalf of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, help us speak up for modern-day slaves around the world. We pray that through our actions we can help bring an end to human trafficking. Amen.

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ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION:

Written by Reggie Kidd, a contemporary pastor, professor, and author. This is an excerpt from the book “Exile and Return.”

The Bible’s most consistent through-theme is that of “exile and return.” There’s the loss of Eden by our original parents, and our return to Paradise on that future day when earth and heaven will be made new. There’s Israel’s succumbing to slavery in Egypt at the end of the patriarchal age, and their exodus under Moses to freedom in the Promised Land. There’s Israel’s exile in Assyria and Judah’s exile in Babylon at the end of the divided monarchy, and Isaiah’s promised new exodus back to the Promised Land under Ezra and Nehemiah. Every story, every novel, every movie that tells of a quest to return home is a retelling of this motif, from Odysseus in the Odyssey to Shadow, Chance, and Sassy in Homeward Bound. Our waywardness separates us from the God who, in his love, made us for himself. God’s persistent love, tireless faithfulness, and non-negotiable holiness work to win us back—over and over and over again, until his love, faithfulness, and holiness yield a renewed planet and restored fellowship between our Creator and us. “Exile and return” is our story. 

PRAYER:

Written by St. Patrick (385-461), a Christian missionary and bishop who served in Ireland. This is known as the “breastplate prayer.”

I bind unto myself today. The strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three. I bind this day to me forever, by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan River; His death on cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spiced tomb; His riding up the heavenly way; His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself today. I bind unto myself the power of the great love of the Cherubim; The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour; The service of the Seraphim, Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word, the Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls, all good deeds done unto the Lord, and purity of virgin souls. I bind unto myself today. The virtues of the starlit heaven, the glorious sun’s life-giving ray, the whiteness of the moon at even, the flashing of the lightning free, the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks, the stable earth, the deep salt sea, around the old eternal rocks. I bind unto myself today. The power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need. The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, his shield to ward, the word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard. Against the demon snares of sin, the vice that gives temptation force, the natural lusts that war within, the hostile men that mar my course; or few or many, far or nigh, in every place and in all hours against their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers. Against all Satan’s spells and wiles, against false words of heresy, against the knowledge that defiles, against the heart’s idolatry, against the wizard’s evil craft, against the death-wound and the burning the choking wave and the poisoned shaft, protect me, Christ, till thy returning. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same. the Three in One, and One in Three, of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Richard J. Foster, a contemporary theologian, speaker, and author in the Quaker tradition. This is an excerpt from his book “Learning Humility.”

Tomorrow is the beginning of that season in the Christian calendar known as Lent…the forty days of preparation for the central event of our faith—the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. I’ve tended to have a rather dim view of the contemporary practices surrounding Lent. Often these practices are embarrassingly trivial…perhaps fasting from coffee or chocolate or other equally trite things. And for me the liturgical traditions that have grown up around Lent seem to be little more than efforts at “organized gloom,” with no genuine rationale for the gloom. I’m often sorely tempted to tell earnest folk that for Lent I plan to fast from prayer. (And I confess that now and again I have yielded to this temptation.) However, this season I am drawn to a particular practice found in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a practice that seeks to nurture an interior posture of “humility and repentance” for the Lenten season. (It was the characterization of humility and repentance that caught my attention.) Three weeks before Lent begins the Eastern Church observes “the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.” This, of course, is drawn from Jesus’ well-known parable recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 18:9-14). Luke observes that this parable is specifically directed to those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt” (v 9). Wow, is this ever an indictment of today’s modern state of affairs…trusting in ourselves that we are righteous and regarding others with contempt. This is the very spirit that saturates the internet and floods talk radio and blogs without number. In the parable the “prayer” of the Pharisee is far less a prayer than a self-righteous rant: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income” (v 11-12). Then the contrast of the publican (a tax collector) could not be more striking. He stands far off, keeps his head down, beats his chest, and cries out, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v 13). If we are searching for a model of profound humility this is it. This Lenten emphasis on “humility and repentance” keying off of Jesus’ parable of the publican and the Pharisee feels worth exploring. So, I will give some thought to a fitting subject for a Lenten experience of humility and repentance.

PRAYER:

Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018) American Christian evangelist.

Our Father and Our God, we praise you for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation’s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in your holy name. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Dallas Willard (1935-2013), an American philosopher, theologian, and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Renovation of the Heart.”

When God stands before us, we stand before him. Refusing to worship him is a way of trying to avoid his face and his eyes. Two-and-a-half-year-old Larissa was enjoying water in the back yard with “Nana.” Nana gently counseled her to water the purple flowers, but she had just discovered mud by pouring water on a small patch of dirt. Nana told her not to put water on the dirt because it makes mud and mud will “get everything dirty.” Well, mud it was anyway, and the little girl even put the mud into a small tub of water nearby, calling it then “warm chocolate.” Nana, who had been reading facing away from the action, soon discovered and cleaned up what to her was a mess, and then returned to her reading, but now seated so as to be facing Larissa. But the little girl soon resumed her “warm chocolate” routine, saying sweetly, “Don’t look at me, Nana. Okay?” Nana of course agreed and looked down at her reading. Then Larissa would make black mud and put some of it in the tub. And then some more. Three times she said, as she continued her work, “Don’t look at me Nana. Okay?” The tender soul of a little child shows us how necessary it is to us that we be unobserved in our wrong. The adult soul carries the same burden—but now so great as to be crushed by it. And when the face of God will no longer be avoidable, that soul will cry out in agony. The so called “right to privacy” of which so much is made in contemporary life is in very large measure merely a way of avoiding scrutiny in our wrongdoing.

PRAYER:

Written by Austin D. Hill, a contemporary pastor.

Almighty God, we cannot escape your presence. Even in our darkest moments, you are there. When we celebrate, you are there. When we doubt your presence, you still are there. Please forgive us for the times we try to flee from you. Confident of your presence among us today, we come to you in silent confession. 

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MEDITATION:

Written by Richard Foster, a contemporary Christian theologian and author.  This is an excerpt from his book “Learning Humility.”

I am taken by the Lakota sense of beauty. It focuses quite naturally on aspects of beauty in nature. Kent Nerburn, editor of “The Wisdom of the Native Americans,” is an internationally recognized artist and so he is especially sensitive to the Native American expressions of beauty in nature. He observes their keen attention to the natural beauty of the earth. “I have seen in our midsummer celebrations cool arbors built of fresh-cut branches for council and dance halls, while those who attended decked themselves with leafy boughs, carrying shields and fans of the same, and even making wreaths for their horses’ necks. But, strange to say, they seldom make free use of flowers. I once asked the reason for this.” “Why,” said one, “the flowers are for our souls to enjoy; not for our bodies to wear. Leave them alone and they will live out their lives and reproduce themselves as the Great Gardener intended. He planted them; we must not pluck them, for it would be selfish to do so.”

PRAYER:

Today’s prayer is a prayer of stewardship from the Anglican Church of Australia.

Creator God, you formed us from the dust of the earth, and reveal your fingerprints in all flesh. Teach us your deep wisdom in the order and beauty of all that you have made. When our care for your creation is found wanting, reprove and reform us, so that our footprints may be more gentle on the earth, tending and keeping it as your own handiwork, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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