Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
One of the toughest tasks I was ever given in my life began with, “It’s thirty six hours you will not die of hunger or thirst.” Then they marched us to a place on the side of a mountain gave us a space to occupy a quart of water, a notebook and pen a short rope and a tarp. They left telling us they would be back the next day to get us. The staff at this camp had done this exercise before. We had everything we needed all we really needed to do was to trust what counselors had said. Instead I saw this ten foot square area as a prison. And it became a prison of my own making in that I failed to believe what I had been promised.
The readings today remind us of the promises the Lord has made with us. In the reading from Isaiah, God looks upon his servants with favor. God promises that he will provide for us. God loves us so much He comforts the people and shows mercy to the afflicted. “Saying to the prisoners: Come Out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves!”
Indeed the Lord’s sole desire for us is to be free from the bondage of sin and to be people of light. And even though we struggle with sin the psalmist echoes Isaiah’s image of a compassionate God. “The Lord is near to all who call on him….in truth.” (Ps 145:18) Our gracious and merciful Lord, will lift us up and draw us from the darkness.
Drawing us from darkness was best accomplished through God becoming one of us. Today’s gospel reading from John reads like Jesus job description. Jesus’ words speak in a similar way as Isaiah. They remind that our loving God sent his Son to preach the good news. Jesus reminds us that the Lord has not forgotten nor forsaken those who hear the word and believe in him and the One who sent him. Jesus is clear that his ministry is in union with the Father. Jesus is not on his own and neither are we, if trust God’s promise to us.
Our Lenten disciplines can liberate us from sin, and call us to good habits that yoke us to God as Father, Son and Spirit. These good habits teach us that only in Christ will our souls be at peace. Discipline is difficult when we rely only on our own will. We are likely not to succeed. Call upon the Lord today to ask for assistance in living out the disciplines to which you are committed and trust the in the Lord’s comfort and mercy.
-Deacon Michael Montgomery