Second Sunday of Lent-Year C
From the archives of March 13, 2022, March 17, 2019 February 21, 2016, and February 24, 2013
Worship Resources for March 13th, 2022—Second Sunday of Lent
Revised Common Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)
Narrative Lectionary: Jesus Washes Feet, John 13:1-17 (Psalm 51:7-12)
Abram was distressed before God because he and Sarai were old and had no children. In Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, God hears Abram’s complaint that a servant in his household is to be their heir, but God takes Abram outside and shows him the stars, that Abram’s descendants will be just as numerous, just as uncountable. God promised Abram that it someone born of his family would inherit from him. Abram believed God, the same God who brought him and Sarai from their father’s home to this new land. Abram offered a sacrifice, and God established a covenant with Abram, to give the land to Abram and Sarai’s descendants.
The psalmist sings of their trust in God in Psalm 27, that they have nothing to fear, even in the midst of enemies. The psalmist knows God will hide them from evil and deliver them, for they have made their home with God. The psalm turns to a plea for God to answer the psalmist’s prayers, that they might remain steadfast. Some have turned away from the psalmist, speaking falsehoods, and others have forsaken them, but the psalmist remains true to God and trusts that God will deliver them, reminding others to take courage and know that God will answer.
Paul writes of being citizens of God’s kingdom in Philippians 3:17-4:1. Those who live for this world are enemies of Christ, where they live by the belly, their greed, and their mind is set on worldly things. But those who are expecting Jesus as their Savior wait for the transformation of their humiliation to glory. Paul calls upon the family of the church in Philippi to stand firm, to join with him in imitating Christ.
The first selection for the Gospel reading is Luke 13:31-35. As Jesus drew closer to Jerusalem, he was warned not to go there. This passage reminds us that many of the Pharisees were not Jesus’ enemies as they are often portrayed. Many taught similar lessons and saw Jesus as another rabbi of their tradition, and warned him that Herod was against him. However, Jesus would not be deterred by the puppet ruler under Rome and told the Pharisees to tell Herod he must continue his ministry. Jesus quipped it was impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem, because Jerusalem was where all the worldly power was. Jesus longed to gather the people like a hen gathers her chicks, but the people of the city would behave as the city always had—longing for God, but unwilling to let go of the world’s ways of power and greed.
The second selection is the Transfiguration, also the lectionary reading two weeks ago. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain with him to pray. While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah spoke with him, and in Luke’s version, they are speaking about Jesus’ soon-to-be departure in Jerusalem. Peter, James, and John are tired, but they behold this scene, and as Moses and Elijah are leaving, Peter speaks up. Peter tells Jesus it’s good they were present, and they want to make three dwellings, one for each of them. The Common English Bible uses the word “shrine” instead of dwelling, indication a sort of worship for Elijah, Moses, and Jesus. Then a cloud suddenly overshadowed them all and the disciples were terrified. A voice came from the cloud telling them to listen to the Son, the Chosen One. When the cloud lifted, Jesus was alone, and they didn’t say anything. In verses 37-43a, it is the next day when they come down the mountain, and a man begs Jesus to heal his son of a spirit. The other disciples could not cast the demon out. Jesus tells the man to bring his son to him, but not before declaring this is a faithless and perverse generation and complains about putting up with them. Jesus rebukes the spirit and gives the boy back to his father, and everyone was amazed.
The Narrative Lectionary turns to the events of Holy Week in John’s account, beginning with foot washing in 13:1-17. Jesus takes on the role of servant, serving the disciples by washing their feet. When Peter protested, Jesus insisted that he must wash their feet to prepare them for the journey ahead. Just before this chapter, Mary (Martha’s sister) washed his feet, preparing him for the journey to Jerusalem and the cross, serving him, and Jesus followed her example. Peter thought he understood at that point and tried to get Jesus to wash his hands and head. Jesus said that one who was bathed was clean except for their feet—just the dirt and grime of the day. This wasn’t baptism, this wasn’t an act of purifying or cleansing—it was simply an act of kindness and serving, and Jesus called them to serve one another with kindness as he had served them.
Psalm 57 is about a cleansing that purifies. A psalm attributed to David, the psalmist desires to be cleansed from the blot of sin, knowing they have gone wrong, and desires a new and clean heart before God, to be set right.
In this Lenten season, as we journey with Jesus to the cross, we are reminded that this world resorts to violence every time to solve its conflicts. It resorts to power and dominion over others. The way of Christ calls us into community, into hope, into serving one another with kindness. It calls us to gather with Christ and others, to seek a different way instead of the violence of the world. It calls us to look to the ancestors of our faith and their trust in God when the world seemed against them. The way of Christ reminds us that the regimes of this world rise and fall, but the reign of God’s love, the beloved community of faith, endures forever.
Call to Worship (Psalm 27:1, 13-14)
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe I shall see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy One, we confess that in our fear, we turn to the ways of this world over Your ways time and again. We turn to leaders who promise power and domination over others, instead of Your commandment to love one another, to bless one another, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We seek comfort in the familiarity even when it oppresses us, because we know it oppresses our enemies, too. Forgive us for our violence, for the harm we inflict upon ourselves and others generation after generation. Help us to break the cycle and to turn to You and Your ways. Help us to lay down our way of violence and pursue peace. Call us into Your ways of love and justice, a way of hope and healing, so that we might end humanity’s destructive and evil ways. In the name of Christ, who laid down his life for us and went to the cross, we pray. Amen.
Blessing/Assurance
Jesus has traveled our path, worn our shoes, rode the same tracks. Jesus’ own heart beat and bled for the world. Jesus cried out in grief and anguish, pain and loss, and still deeply loves us. We are loved by a God who knows our pain and suffering and struggle. Bring it all to Jesus, for he knows what it’s like, and loves us, and calls us to love one another. Amen.
Prayer
God of Creation, as the days lengthen in the Northern hemisphere, we see signs of You all around. The snow is melting, the ice releasing its grasp. Shoots are breaking forth from the cold earth and buds are preparing to open. Even in the midst of war and grief, Your life still takes hold, and has deep roots. May we be open to You. May we nourish the roots of Your life in us, knowing that You have made us into a new creation, a new life that takes hold in us. Everything old has passed away, everything has become new, as the Apostle Paul once wrote. May it be so in us. May something new take hold of us this season and not let us go, so that we might live more fully into Your life that you dreamed for us, a new life that begins now and lasts for eternity. In Your name we pray, Great Creator. Amen.
Worship Resources for March 17th, 2019—Second Sunday of Lent
Revised Common Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 or 9:28-36 (37-43a)
Narrative Lectionary: Laborers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16 (Psalm 16:5-8)
Continuing on a theme of hope for the future, the Hebrew Scriptures selection in this season of Lent focuses on God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 15. At this point, Abram and Sarai are still childless, and their hope for the future is very bleak. Without an heir, there is no one to carry on their name or receive their inheritance. God promises that Abram will have descendants more numerous than the stars, and after Abram makes a sacrifice to God, God declares the land that Abram’s descendants will inherit.
Psalm 27 is a song of endurance and encouragement. Though enemies rise up, the psalmist declares their faithfulness to God. Even when they are surrounded, they will still sing praise. The psalmist pleads for God to answer them in their distress, and to not forsake them. “Teach me your way,” the psalmist calls out, and in the end, believes that there is still goodness to come. Take heart.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:17-4:1 to encourage the church in Philippi to live as an example of Christ by imitating him. Paul writes of those who live as enemies of the cross, whose “god is the belly.” Greed and lust are their downfall, but for those who imitate Christ, the citizenship in in heaven. For a church living under the reign of Rome, these are words of encouragement that the ways of the world are set on worldly things, but Christ is the one who will transform us. Paul encourages the church to remain faithful.
The first selection for the Gospel reading is Luke 13:31-35, in which some Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him. It’s a good reminder for us reading two thousand years later not to lump all Pharisees together. There were many who, while they may not have agreed with everything Jesus taught, did not want anything bad to come to him, either. Jesus laments over Jerusalem, the holy city, for the prophets of the people were often not listened to and sometimes killed there. Jesus sees himself in this line of prophets, as one who wanted to gather the people, to protect them like a mother hen, but he knows he will be rejected by the leaders as were other prophets.
The second selection is the Transfiguration, the Lectionary reading from two weeks ago. In Luke’s account of Jesus’ Transfiguration, Jesus has taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain with him to pray. They are “weighed down with sleep” but they experience Jesus’ clothes turning dazzling white, and the appearance of his face changed. Moses and Elijah also appear with him. However, in Luke’s account, the figures are leaving when Peter declares it is good to be there, and suggests making dwellings for all three of them (suggesting Peter wants the other two to remain). A cloud overshadows them, and Peter, James, and John are terrified. After the voice booms down from heaven that this is “my Son, my Chosen; listen to him,” they find Jesus alone, and they don’t say anything to anyone. In the continuing verses, it is the next day that they are met by a great crowd, and a desperate father looking for help for his son possessed by a spirit. Jesus appears to be angry at the “faithless and perverse generation” after his own disciples were unable to cast the spirit out. Jesus rebukes the spirit, heals the boy and gives him back to his father. While we don’t know why the disciples were unable to cast out the spirit, it seems that they had given up and left the father to fend on his own for help.
The Narrative Lectionary focuses on the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. In this passage, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who hires daily laborers for the vineyard—some early in the morning, some at noon, some at three, and some an hour before evening. However, at the end of the day, he has them paid all the same. Those who worked all day are not happy about it. The owner says, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong.” He then asks the question if they are envious because he is generous with what belongs to him. Jesus declares that the last will be first, and the first shall be last.
The psalmist declares in these few verses of Psalm 16 that God is the one who gives counsel and instruction. The psalmist keeps close to God, choosing God’s ways, and they know that God is the one who delivers them.
Waiting for God is often a theme in Lent and in our faith journey. Waiting for an answer to prayer. Waiting for hope in the midst of bad news. Wondering where God is, how God will see us forward when there seems to be no path. The scriptures tell us to wait, but we’re an impatient people. But in the end, God will see us through. In this season of Lent, God is with us as we travel the wilderness. And though we may want to avoid the rough patches, we still have to go through them. However, Christ has traveled this journey, and has seen the other side. We will make it through.
Call to Worship
When the shadows grow at the edge of the road,
O God, keep us steady, help us move onward.
When the path is unclear, and fog settles in,
O God, help us to overcome our fears, and live in faith.
When it becomes difficult to continue on,
O God, make Your presence known to us,
Despite our weariness and our struggles,
O God, be with us, always.
Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Steadfast God, we confess that our courage is fleeting. Fear overtakes us; we become weary and overwhelmed. Renew our spirits, O God. Help us to lean on You, to find our strength in one another. Lift us up, and help us to lift up one another. Inspire us, O God, to keep moving on, despite what the world throws at us, despite our disappointments and shortcomings. For You are our Rock, our Strength, and Our Redeemer. Amen.
Blessing/Assurance (from Lamentations 3:22-23)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness.
Be renewed. Be inspired. Be hopeful. Be unafraid, for God loves you, God forgives you, and God is with you, always, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer
Creator God, there are so many more stars than what we can see, and their light is shining; we just haven’t seen it yet. The stars in front of us will burn out and fade from memory, but their light is shining now, and we behold it and are amazed. God, You have created what was, and You are creating what is new, and You create what will be. In all the worries and troubles of the now, may we remember with awe all that has been, and all that is to come, through You, the Great Connection, the Mystery, the Creator of the Universe. Amen.
Worship Resources for February 21st, 2016—Second Sunday in Lent
Revised Common Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-43a
Narrative Lectionary: Bartimaeus Healed, Mark 10:32-52 (Psalm 34:11-14)
In Genesis 15, Abram cries out to God, because he and Sarai have remained childless, and Abram is concerned about who will inherit. How will Abram pass down to the next generation, when there is none? God speaks to Abram, brings him outside and has him look at the stars, because the descendants of Abram will be just as uncountable. God also promises to Abram that he will possess the land, and makes a covenant with Abram.
Psalm 27 sings of having courage in God. The psalmist sings of not being afraid, even when enemies are near. The psalmist is confident of God’s presence, assured that God will not let them down. They are certain that in the end, God will prevail, and goodness will prevail. Take heart, have courage in God.
In Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul speaks to the church in Philippi to look to him as an example, because there are others who claim to follow Christ but worship the god of the “belly,” looking to satisfy their worldly desires. Paul reminds the faithful that they have their citizenship in heaven, and are expecting their savior, Jesus, who will transform all to conform to him.
The first selection for the Gospel reading is Luke 13:31-35. This passage is a good reminder that not all Pharisees were actively against Jesus, that others (such as Nicodemus in John 3) saw him as a rabbi sent from God, and these Pharisees here warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus speaks out against Herod, the puppet ruler of Judea under the Roman government, because Jesus is doing the work of God, not the work of the oppressors. Jesus laments over Jerusalem, remembering the prophets who have been killed before, because the ones in power would not listen. Jesus uses the image of a mother hen gathering her chicks to show his desire of wanting to gather the children (whether young, or a term of referring to the innocent) together, but Jesus will not return to Jerusalem, until he enters it one last time.
The second selection is the Transfiguration, which is often read on the Sunday before Lent. This passage contains both the account of the Transfiguration and what happened the next day. In Luke’s account, Jesus has taken Peter, John and James up the mountain to pray. While they are there, Jesus’ clothes become dazzling white and the appearance of his face changes. Peter, James and John are “weighed down with sleep” but stay awake for this, as Moses and Elijah come to talk with Jesus. Peter, of course, wants to immediately make tents for the three, and Luke’s account reads that Peter didn’t know what he was saying. When the voice comes from the cloud, in Luke’s account Jesus is referred to as “my Son, my Chosen.” Once the voice has spoken, Jesus was found to be alone. The next day, a man comes to Jesus begging him to look at his son who has a spirit that causes seizures, but the disciples weren’t able to do anything about it. Jesus condemns the “faithless and perverse generation” and heals the boy. The man had not been able to find help, even among the disciples, and had begged Jesus to take a look at his boy. The disciples had already forgotten what they had experienced on the mountain.
The Narrative Lectionary begins with Jesus speaking about his death and resurrection for the third time in Mark’s Gospel account, beginning at 10:32. Then James and John ask Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand—obviously missing the point of what Jesus had just told them about giving his life. The rest of the disciples are pretty upset with James and John for not getting it, but Jesus reminds them all that the first must become last, and that the greatest will become the servant of all. Finally, as the disciples and Jesus enter Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus cries out for Jesus to have mercy on him. When Jesus finally calls to him, after Bartimaeus was told to be quiet by others, he tells Jesus, “Let me see again!” Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well, and immediately he regains his sight and follows Jesus.
Psalm 34:11-14 contains words of wisdom: do not speak evil, and don’t deceive others. Depart from evil, do good, and seek peace. For those who desire long lives, this is the advice of the psalmist.
Persevering in God is not easy. Abram waited far too long, but God’s promises came through. Paul encouraged the church in Philippi to endure by looking to him as a model, and not those who live in the way of the world. Bartimaeus perseveres when others ignore him and deliberately try to keep him at the margins. And Jesus perseveres even in the face of persecution and the threat of death. Faith helps us to endure, to know that we are citizens of heaven, and we are called to conform to God and not the ways of the world.
Call to Worship (from Psalm 27)
The Lord is our light and our salvation;
Whom shall we fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of our lives;
Of whom shall we be afraid?
Though we may feel alone and forsaken at times,
God is with us, and will lead us on.
We believe we will see the goodness of our God,
We know the Lord is present with us in this time of worship.
Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy One, we confess that we have followed the ways of the world, worshipped the idols that promise worldly satisfaction, wealth and fame. We have not love those on the margins, and we have failed to work to end oppression and injustice. Forgive our narrow-mindedness, our short-sightedness. Call us back into Your ways, looking to Jesus our Savior as our model and example. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Blessing/Assurance of Pardon
Opportunities to participate in God’s justice abound. Chances to love our neighbor and care for those on the margins are all around. Instances in which we can know we are forgiven are too numerous to count. God’s love knows no measure, no bounds. Go, knowing you are loved and forgiven, and participate in the world we are in by living in the ways of the heavenly kingdom, caring for all of God’s children. Amen.
Prayer
Author of Life, write into our hearts Your ways, because the ways of his world have stolen the pages. The ways of this world have put us at the center, written us as heroes, made us feel as if all things good are supposed to happen for us. Tear out the rubbish of this world, and remind us that You are the one who writes our story, You are the one who calls us to live for others and not for ourselves, to care for the lost and least and to serve one another. Remind us that the ways of this world are not Your ways, for Your ways call us into love, justice, and mercy, by serving one another. In the name of Christ, the Logos, the Word, we pray. Amen.
Worship Resources for February 24—Second Sunday of Lent
Revised Common Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Luke 13:31-35; Philippians 3:17-4:1
In our Old Testament thread for Lent, we are focusing on the promises of God. We echo back to last week’s passage in Deuteronomy of the promise fulfilled to Abraham and Sarah, wandering Arameans whose descendants entered their homeland with the reminder to welcome the stranger. This week, we read in Genesis 15 and hear the beginnings of that great promise to Abraham and Sarah, the promise of a home, the promise of a future full of hope.
Psalm 27 reminds us that God is always present with us, even when evil surrounds us—God is near. Even when times are tough—God is close by. Even when it seems that all hope is lost, we believe in the goodness of the Lord and have faith with courage that God’s presence will not fail us. The psalmist sings that even when hope seems foolish, remain strong and take heart.
Luke 13:31-35 is a short passage, of a time when Herod, who had already killed John the Baptist, was looking for an opportunity to kill Jesus as he drew closer to Jerusalem. We are reminded through this passage that not all Pharisees were the “bad guys.” It’s easy to condemn an entire group of people for the actions of a few, but in this case (and in John 3 with Nicodemus who also mentions there are others who know he is from God) there are Pharisees who, while maybe questioning who Jesus is and his motives, do not seek his harm. The Pharisees here warn Jesus that Herod is trying to kill him, and to get away from Jerusalem. But Jesus will not be swayed. In strong language, Jesus tells them to tell Herod that he is doing what he was called to do, and Jesus also laments over Jerusalem. So many have tried to warn the people, especially the religious leaders and the ruling elite, that they were going astray from God’s ways, but they were unwilling to give up their power. Then, in a moment unlike any other (and not recorded in the other Gospels), Jesus invokes the image of the mother hen gathering her chicks together. Here, the power that Jesus describes is to gather and protect, unlike the power in Jerusalem that was used to rule and dominate. The power that comes from God is a power of protection, of bringing together, of healing and hope (as demonstrated when Jesus tells the Pharisees to tell Herod what he is doing—casting out demons and healing the sick), not a power of domineering, destruction and greed over others.
Philippians 3:17-4:1 echoes this concept of power demonstrated by Jesus: Paul grieves for those who live in the ways of the world, who live by greed and destruction, who desire power over others. This is not the way of Christ and it is certainly not the way of the kingdom of God. God’s power is love that is transforming. As Jesus said, the first will be last and the last will be first—whoever wishes to be first must become last of all and servant of all. Paul clearly states that those who live by the way of the world will die by the way of the world, and those who live for Christ now will live with Christ. Those live by consumption worship the God of consumption, which “is the belly” (vs 19). Those who live for others and love others have a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs 20).
So do not lose heart, as we are reminded in 2 Corinthians. Lent is a journey, and our spiritual lives are a journey. We do not see the end but we know the way we are going. Living for Christ means living for others and not for ourselves. Living for Christ means following God’s ways of love and justice and seeking justice for others. Living for Christ means knowing that the way of this world—to put ourselves first, to seek earthly success and gain, to “have it all”—means to lose it all in the end. Living for Christ means we trust in God, we trust in the hope of God for us, as Abraham and Sarah did so long ago, as Jesus taught us, and as the psalmists sang and Paul preached—we know we shall see the goodness of God in our lives, and we share that hope with others.
Call to Worship
The kingdom of God is at hand!
The reign of God has already come near.
Repent, turn back to God, and seek forgiveness!
In Christ, we are forgiven and have new life.
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Christ has already come, and Christ will come again.
Come, let us worship and celebrate, drawing near to Christ on this journey of faith. Amen.
Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Navigator of our lives, You point the direction for us into new life, but we often go astray. We choose our own gains over the well-being of others. We desire to have comfort in this life, to not be faced with trials, to not worry about what we need to eat or wear—but we seek worldly assurances instead of Your guidance and direction. Forgive us when we have gone astray. Guide us back to Your path of justice, righteousness and mercy. May we seek the well-being of others above our earthly desires. May we meet the needs of others before worrying about the frivolities of life. Call us back to Your commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. In the name of Christ, who guides us back on the Way, we pray. Amen.
Blessing/Assurance of Pardon
Step by step, God walks with us. Hand by hand, God works with us. Heart by heart, God’s love is shared with us. We are forgiven, we are loved, and we reconciled to God. Go and live out this Good News. Amen.
Prayer
Sojourning God, You called our ancestors away from a familiar land, across the wilderness to a new home. You led our ancestors out of the oppression of slavery into a home of freedom. You guided our ancestors out of the darkness of exile into a home of light and joy. You continue to call us away from darkness and oppression into light and hope, but you also call us out of the familiar into the unknown. Keep walking with us, guiding us when we stray from Your ways. Help us to know that even when we think we are stepping out alone, even away from You, You are still with us, holding us close, continuing to turn us back to home. In the name of Christ, who walked before us, walks with us, and walks ahead of us, we pray. Amen.