Good morning, Nativity!

I am writing this on Monday morning, the first Monday of Lent. I have just come off an emotional, roller coaster weekend that included preaching at my mom’s funeral and participating in the Bishop Smith memorial and dedication at the Diocesan offices. The love of Christ and the presence of the Holy Ghost (remember we are in Rite One) were thick in all of it. In all honesty, I had nothing left in the tank at services last Sunday; but thanks to the Holy Ghost’s presence and guidance, I made it through. Time with family and friends. Prayers, cards and messages from you all. All of that helped to share the Love of Christ with me. When I needed it most. Thank you and God Bless!

Last Sunday’s readings were on the three temptations of Christ (Luke 4:1-13). The focus of my sermon last Sunday was on the number 40, temptation and sin, and Satan awaiting an “opportune time”. There was more in that Sunday reading from Luke than I could have touched on. The scripture from Hebrews during today’s Morning Prayer provided an avenue to explore the Gospel reading from Luke just a bit more:

“Therefore Jesus had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

(Heb 2:17–18, ESV)

Tempted as we are tempted. Suffered as we suffer. Died as we will die. That is our God. He knows us because He lived as one of us. He knows temptation because Satan tempted Him through his Son, Jesus. He knows suffering, for Jesus mourned the death of Lazarus and Jesus underwent the Passion, more suffering than any of us will ever endure. Jesus knew death through His death on the cross. God, through Jesus Christ His Son, knows what it is like to be human.

God did not do any of this because He had to do it. He freely chose to do it. He did it because He loves us, unconditionally. He created us. We fell into sin. He sent His “only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world” (Eucharistic Prayer 1, BCP 334). After Jesus ascended, God sent us the Holy Ghost to guide and comfort us in our human condition because God understood our human condition. God did not have to do any of this; He did it out of love, perfect, unconditional love.

God knows what it means to be human. Tempted as we are tempted. Suffered as we suffer. Died as we will die. Oh yeah, and the very best part: resurrected as we will be resurrected. That is our God. No other “deity” has ever or would ever do any of that. And all God asks in return is that we believe in Him, that we have faith in Him, that we love Him and our neighbor. That is a rather good deal I would say.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Collect for Palm Sunday; BCP, 168)

In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Fr. Tim⁺
(941.321.6376; tmac_84@yahoo.com)