“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
On this first Sunday of Lent, the readings give us a handy two-edged sword to help us have a Lent that leads us closer to God.
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
This selection of Scripture is toward the end of Moses giving “the Law” to the Israelites in the desert, yet it comes many years before the people will inhabit their Promised Land and have “first fruits” of crops to present in joy to the Lord. Why is this picture of harvest and what to do with it given so many years before it can be implemented? And what does it have to do with us?
Research on behavioral change tells us that in order to change a habit (or way of life) a person has to be able to visualize in his/her mind how it will look to do the new thing. If I want to learn to be less judgmental this Lent, I have to be able to see myself responding to situations in a way that attributes benign motives to others and responds to them with respect, without negative comment to myself or others. If I want to pray more seriously, I have to be able to see myself doing it. A drug addict who cannot imagine herself clean and sober can’t stay clean and sober. Neither can I follow through on Lenten practices unless I can imagine myself doing them. The right side of the human brain needs a picture to proceed to change.
Likewise, the left side of the brain needs a logical “rule.” That rule may be a “To Do” list of parts of a plan to pray or be less triggered by others’ behavior. It may be a Scripture verse that summarizes the action you seek to happen. “Judge not that you be not judged.” It might be a goal. “I will add a hymn of Adoration at the end of morning prayer to help me rest better in contemplation.”
Perhaps today, it would be good to read this selection from Deuteronomy while considering your Lenten plans. Write down your goal and a simple plan to accomplish it. What will you do when and how? Then let yourself imagine how you want to be when Easter comes. See yourself, now in the Promised Land of closer following God’s ways, offering to God your “first fruits,” the change you have made during Lent.
Romans 10:8-13
This is a piece of Scripture that has separated Catholics and Protestants for centuries. I could get into apologetics. Not today.
Today, I am invited to look at what these verses say: They say that our sacraments, moral teaching, and theology must permeate us down to our hearts and wills. Knowing and understanding everything in the catechism does not save me. Going to mass out of obligation, consuming the Eucharist because it’s what we do, or loving pope or priest do not save me. Even feeding the hungry or reading Scripture do not save me. They are “outward forms” that are meant to point to inner realities that indicate God’s center place in my soul.
The Church gives us Romans today to tell us: look on the inside. “Rend your hearts, not your garments and return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:13) we heard on Ash Wednesday. REND our hearts—tear them open. Rend my heart. Tear it open.
It isn’t enough to keep Lent with some external behaviors. I need to open myself to God.
Luke 4:1-13
All the Gospels tell of Jesus’ temptations in the desert, so Jesus’ temptations are the readings for the first Sunday of Lent each year. There are many deep and wonderful reflections we can have as we consider Luke’s presentation of it.
My consideration has centered this week on what Jesus said to Satan at every temptation: “It is written.” Then he quoted Scripture:
“It is written, ‘You shall not live on bread alone.'”
“It is written ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God and him alone shall you serve.’”
“It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test.’”
Jesus tells us, USE SCRIPTURE TO WARD OFF TEMPTATION. He shows us how. Face the temptation and say out loud: “It is written…..”
Time was that that was hard unless you knew scripture well. But the internet changes that. What is your temptation or behavior change goal? Type “Scripture” or “Bible” and name the concern. Give it to Google. You will instantaneously get multiple verses. Look them up. Find one that seems just right. Put it on your phone. Make it your email signature for Lent. Memorize it. Include it in your morning and evening prayers. Quote it OUT LOUD when you are tempted. See what God does.
Bone Marrow
Back to Hebrews to summarize: “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
There is something beautifully clean and life-giving when I encounter Scripture which nails exactly what the problem is and/or what I need to do about it. I had that experience in January, and my Lent is focused on trying to adjust my way of living and being to match the Scripture God gave me. It feels like a clean cut with a very sharp knife, painful for a day or so, yes, but not brutally so—and now very healing as God gets through my bones to the marrow.
I looked up “bone marrow.” It is spongy tissue that produces more than 500 billion blood cells a day in an adult. It creates the blood stream that enables our bodies to function. It also produces cells for the lymphatic system that protects our bodies from invasion by various microbes. In an adult, it is mostly in the spine, ribs, sternum, and bones of the pelvis. It is part of our human structure that surrounds our vital organs. To protect it, it is in the core of bones. It is God’s creative system operating in the middle of what is hardened and protective of us. Marrow is God’s creativity at the core of us!
And so, this is the beautiful image and design that comes to me as I join the three Scriptures for this Sunday. Mother Church gives us a beautiful prescription for Lent:
From Deuteronomy: Begin with the end in mind—the picture of increased life with God you and I seek and the joy of living that increased life.
From Romans: Recognize that our goal isn’t just external: we must rend our hearts to let God in and then open our lives to let God out. “For one believes with the heart and thus is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.”
From Luke: Seek, memorize, and use Scripture to ward off temptations and inhabit the marrow of our bones to give you and me new life’s blood to transform us more in God’s image, God’s life.
Prayer (Lines from Psalm 51)
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.
Indeed, you love truth in the heart;
Then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
That the bones you have crushed may thrill.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
Put a steadfast spirit within me.
