Monday

I took the Sunday off for Sabbath but still read Mark 1:12-15.  The theme was Repent!  Be reconciled to God. Receive the forgiveness in Christ.  Then Forgive others.

Every week we pray the Lord’s Prayer asking God to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Yet, how often we hold onto grudges or the past without forgiveness.  Jesus stated in Matthew if we do not forgive others the Father will not forgive us.  It is not a matter of who goes first.  We need to step up to the plate and be the first.  This Lent who do you need to forgive and then do it!

Today the scripture is Lev. 19:1-2, 11-18

“Refrain from rash judgments.  Our God is just, filled with mercy and compassion.”

15 "Always judge your neighbors fairly, neither favoring the poor nor showing deference to the rich.
16 "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. "Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD.
17 "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. "Confront your neighbors directly so you will not be held guilty for their crimes.
18 "Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

This and yesterday reflections tie together.  Judging and forgiving are close to each other.  Think what this would do to our lives and the lives of those around us.  To not make rash judgments, to not spread gossip, to not try to outdo our neighbors, to really love our neighbors.  This does not mean becoming a doormat and allow others to abuse you or to use you.  We all make judgments.  What it does mean is not to let our prejudices so influence us we give no one a chance.  We can look at the state of the world and see where grudges have gotten us and unchecked greed has created nightmares for the poor throughout the world.

We have politicians cater to the rich, we have corporations lie so that they can get benefits as they destroy the earth, and we have people judge one another not based on knowing the person but rather on racial, sexual orientation, or ethnic origins.

Make this Lent a time of examining our prejudice so that we can love our neighbor as our self.