Second Sunday in Lent (Year A), Feb. 20, 2005
BCP: Gen. 12:1-8; Psalm 33:12-22; Rom. 4:1-5(6-12)13-17; John 3:1-17
RCL: Gen. 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Rom. 4:1-5,13-17; John 3:1-17
Most of us have a problem with both making and keeping commitments. We have a terrible time trusting others, and that probably has something to do with our not being very trustworthy ourselves. So we plan ahead for our relationships to fail, as most of them inevitably will. We constantly hedge our bets. We always try to leave ourselves an out.
None of us would dream of signing a contract that didn’t spell out specific consequences should the other party renege. We expect people to try to cheat us, to the same extent that we ourselves try to cheat others. Fewer of us than ever are willing to enter a marriage without a written prenuptial agreement of some sort. Because the solemn vow, “until we are parted by death,” actually means to many of us, “as long as you meet my needs,” we need to protect our long-term personal interests. Don’t we?
In today’s reading from Exodus, Abram appears as a most unusual person, at least by our standards. Called by God to unconditional faith, he immediately and without reservation accepts. No “golden parachute” clause for if the contract doesn’t pan out. No fine print or fast-talking disclaimers. No “pre-covenant” agreement to save on court costs for his trying to cheat God later on. Abram simply trusts in God’s goodness, probably because Abram himself is good. And we all know the rest of the story. God responds to Abram’s faith with his own faithfulness, and Abram eventually becomes the father of Jews, of Christians, and of Muslims.
Today’s gospel makes it clear that all of us who have been reborn by water and the Spirit in baptism are invited to citizenship in the kingdom. As the kingdom is taking shape in our midst even now, moreover, we’re called to abandon our faithlessness and lack of trust and to replace them with faith akin to Abram’s. Unconditional faith in God, who is unconditionally faithful to us. And trust in our fellow Christians, who are anointed by the Spirit as we are.
Today’s readings invite us to faith and to trust. We achieve those things when we become faithful and trustworthy ourselves.
Look It Up
How does Paul understand the relationship between our own faithfulness and that of God? (Rom. 3:1-18)
Think About It
If we project our own fallen deficiencies onto others, in what ways might projecting our baptismal kingdom values onto fellow Christians transform us into better human beings?
Next Sunday
Third Sunday in Lent (Year A), Feb. 27, 2005
BCP: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95 or 95:6-11; Rom. 5:1-11; John 4:5-26(27-38)39-42
RCL: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Rom. 5:1-11; John 4:5-42
