Sample Lenten Devotionals
Abba, Father
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the
messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your
people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!"
I can still remember the first time I took Emily to the doctor for her
vaccinations. As they administered the shots, she looked up at me with a face that
said, "Daddy, why are you letting this happen to me, make her stop." But I
knew that the little pain she was suffering would prevent much worse pain later. So
I held back the tears, and when it was done, I hugged her and reassured her until she
smiled at me.
I want to always protect my children from harm but bad things will always
happen. It's a part of life and of learning. A parent learns that they can't
always stop a child even when there is the possibility of a scrapped knee or a bruised
ego. They have to sometime experience things to learn.
Jesus tries to teach us that God is a good parent, and because he is a
good parent, he sometimes lets us stumble and fall. Then he picks us up and puts a
Pooh Band-Aid on our often invisible scratch and sends us on our way. And like a
good parent, mistakes are soon forgotten and the child is once again the apple of the
parent's eye.
In today's reading, Jesus tells the crowds how, throughout history, God's
own people ignored and killed the prophets he sent. Yet each time he came to their
aid and freed them from bondage. Jesus further reminds us that God is such a good
parent that he, like a hen to her chicks, will cover us and protect us from all harm.
I guess there is a reason we call him Father.
Prayer: Father, so often we act like children. We want someone
else's toys and don't want to share our own. We try to deceive you to hide our
errors. And we think we can do it on our own and we fall. Help us to grow in
your ways. Let us share what you have given us. Show us that truth is a better
way. And may we take your hand that it may guide us over the bumps in life.
Amen.
Go, Then
"Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my
disciples: Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and
teach them to obey everything I have commanded you."
That spring break trip I took as a junior in high school was
special. I knew it was special at the time - but I didn't fully understand
why. You see, I had reached a point in my life where I felt that I knew myself and
the world around me. I didn't know what an eye opener that ten day trip would
be. The Dean of Students, a Jesuit priest, had invited two fellow classmates and me
to accompany him to Honduras for a missionary study. The purpose of our trip was to
better understand the mission of the Jesuits in Central America, gather information, and
to communicate this experience to our classmates,
The much-anticipated trip seemed to go by like a whirlwind, and the
evening I returned home, I was emotionally drained. I had witnessed terrible
suffering and poverty. Honduras has living conditions that we cannot begin to dream
of. How can people live in such a place? I realized there were two
reasons. First, most Hondurans have not experienced the life that we enjoy.
The second and more profound reason why people are able to live in such poverty, is their
faith in Jesus. The Honduran culture is deeply entrenched in the teachings of
Jesus. Towns were built around a church. Community events were church
centered. In everything people did, Jesus and his teachings were of utmost
importance. This was evident throughout my journey.
I took many rolls of film and documented each day's events in a journal.
After I returned home, my traveling classmates and I prepared a school-wide
presentation. While I still could not comprehend how I would explain my experience,
I knew I had to have faith in Jesus.
Our presentation generated a wonderful response. Since then, the
Honduran spring break trip has been an annual occurrence at my high school. I often
wonder why I was picked to go to Honduras. While I still do not fully understand, I
suspect the reason was because someone recognized a gift God had given to me. That
gift is the ability to gather challenging or complex information and present it in a clear
and meaningful way. This is a gift that I actively use in my daily life at work, but
I do not always think to use it to spread God's Word. I wonder what other spiritual
gifts God has given me that I have yet to discover?
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to actively look to discover your
gifts to us. Let us use these gifts to spread your teachings. Amen.
Where Is God's "Treasure?"
"I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; the
night is coming when no one can work."
My first year on church council, we endured too many unpleasant sessions
between the treasurer, who was a soft-spoken, elderly gentleman, and several overly
demanding bureaucrats. Important business was put on hold while he was grilled
extensively in a quest to find the few pennies when the books were out of balance.
When the term was up, neither he, nor anyone else wanted to be treasurer. To further
complicate matters, it had been decided that the church books would be computerized.
I knew little about computers and nothing about accounting. Why the
Lord called me to volunteer to be treasurer, and even re-up, I do not know. I
received a lot of help; but my accomplishments were unremarkable.
After hearing about my job a few times, our youngest son finally asked me
how it was that I was the church's "treasure." [big laugh] On
further reflection, I suppose God's treasure includes those who heed his call, however
unequipped, and attempt his mission, though it is outside the 'comfort zone' and even when
the results are less than spectacular.
Prayer: Heavenly Father. Open us to your call, teach us to
trust your direction, and give us the strength to attempt projects for which we have no
obvious talent. Amen.
Let Go, Let God
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."
What kind of esteem do you want to obtain in this world? Do you want
to impress people in general, your family and friends, your employer, and above all, your
Father God?
Well, you will be pleased to know that the Bible states that you can
achieve this goal. If you want favor with both God and man, along with a reputation
for good judgement and common sense, there is only one way to make this a reality and that
is to trust the Lord completely - don't ever trust yourself.
If you put God first in all things, he will direct all your efforts and
crown them with success. By following the mandate religiously, your life will be
filled with wonderful ideas, renewed health and vitality, and a faith that will grow
stronger each day.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please let us remember to keep you first in our
hearts and minds as we gratefully receive all your blessings as we learn to rely upon you
for everything. Amen.
Faith Or Just Noise?
"I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge
and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains -- but if I
have no love, I am nothing."
One day a dad and young son stopped and helped a lady change a flat tire.
The boy was only nine. He talked to the lady while the dad changed the tire.
It wasn't long until both the lady and the dad and son were on their way again. The
son asked way they had taken the time to help. The dad told him that we should love
our neighbor and assist them when we find someone in need. It is not enough to say I
well help. It is when we get in and help that our deeds speak for us. If we
would have passed the lady by and not helped, our words of love for our neighbor would be
the same as a lot of noise.
Prayer: Lets us pray for the strength to share the love of the lord
with all we meet. Amen.
