Devotions-week of March 4

Sunday March 4-Ps. 22 is one of the great penitential laments. Jesus quotes its start on the cross. Read it, and make a chart comparing it to the Passion account, and it seems to have a number of points of contact. Feeling forsaken is a great spiritual emptiness. Whenever it strikes, may you be filled with the love and comfort of God.

Monday-Memory is powerful and fallible. Isaiah has contradictory advice on it by telling us to remember the former things and remember not the former things. That strikes me as an excellent spiritual exercise. What memories deserve to be dead and buried? What memories deserve to be tended and kept as fresh as the first daffodil of spring?

Tuesday-Instead of giving something up for Lent, consider trying some new spiritual practice. Do a spiritual inventory and decide if you wish to work on a weak spot or to bolster an older strong virtue. Try another way. Are you more introverted or extroverted? Consider either appealing to that weight of your personality, as we are all a mix of the two poles. You may want to try something our of your comfort zone and appeal to that other side of your preferences.

Wednesday-Beneath the Cross is a standard Lenten hymn. Consider reading it as a religious poem and then maybe sing it softly to yourself. The Scot Elizabeth Clephane wrote the lyrics. Although she was a frail woman, she was called sunbeam, due to her unfailing cheerfulness, in her community near the home of Sir Walter Scott. Notice how willing she is able to transpose her pain on to the cross.

Thursday-This is International Women’s Day. It is dedicated to rural women this year. When you think about it, many biblical heroines were rural women. Consider reading the book of Ruth again. (Calm down, remember, it’s only four chapters). What do you consider the special joys and challenges of rural living? It’s followed by the World Day of Prayer on the theme, “Let justice prevail” from Amos 5. Justice is about structure, not individual acts of charity. It imagines a world where we are treated fairly. In my lifetime, we have made great strides toward justice in our own land. Our eyes are open to the unfairness across the globe. Justice is on the march.

Friday-Vice has an old fashion ring to it. It usually shows up as the opposite of virtue, another old-fashioned word. In our day, a vice has lost some of its moral connection. We usually speak of eating something bad for our weight as a vice, or a temptation for that matter. Would you say you struggle with a moral vice? What are your, oh, top three virtues?

Saturday-In our frenetic society, Sabbath keeping may be one of the most difficult spiritual practices. it has fallen by the wayside in much of Protestant experience, even going to church every week seems to be optional. Our busyness reflects a business mentality that time is money and must be filled with efficient and effective practices. Dorothy Bass wonders if we need to re-introduce Sabbath slowly. Consider doing no job tasks on the Sabbath time, from say 6PM Saturday to 6PM Sunday or all day Sunday, or no bill paying, no church committee meetings.