February 27, 2010 - Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday of Lent

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 15:1-21; Mark 5:21-43

“Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are old. Let not my enemies triumph over me, Redeem Israel, O God,out of all their troubles!” (Psalm 25:6, 2)

Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. God doesn’t forget anything. He remembers what He did and what we did. He knows our sins—every last one of them. He knows our thoughts—even the darkest and most hypocritical of them. So what do you want him to remember about you? What would you like Him to think about? Would you like Him to remember what you have done...or would you like Him to remember something else?

Aha! If God remembers Jesus, He won’t remember your sins. If God remembers what His Son did for you, He won’t remember what you do to Him. If God remembers Jesus, He won’t have any anger left to throw at you. No, all of it was spent on Jesus. Remember that, God!

Remember, God, the tender mercies that you showed in the giving up your Son for my sins. Remember your loving-kindness and forgive me for Jesus sake. Now Lent is suddenly looking up, right?

Don’t look at my sins. Please don’t. Not the sins that I did when I was young, not the sins that I do now. Don’t dismiss my prayers because of them. In fact, if you could just not look at me at all, God, that would be much better. Instead, remember Jesus and Jesus alone. His holy life for my never-holy life. His bitter sufferings and death in the place of the death and hell I deserve. When you look at me, see Jesus instead. Jesus alone.

The Cross—that’s what I want God to remember...don’t you? Look there, God. Remember what He did for me. Don’t consider anything else other than the righteousness of Christ.

And if you have to look at me, look at my Baptism where Jesus washed my sins away. Remember the Words of Absolution that cleansed me from the guilt of my sins. Remember the Supper of Jesus, where the life and salvation of the Son of God was given to me in His Body and Blood under bread and wine.

Tomorrow, we tell God what to remember! ReminiscereSunday gets its name from the Introit of the Second Sunday of Lent, “Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies.” And for our joy and salvation, Reminiscereit’s an imperative! We’re ordering Him to remember Christ. Can you get more “happy Lent” than that? Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen.

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; let me not | be ashamed; do not remember the sins of my youth; according to Your mercy remember me for Your goodness' sake. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. For Your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. (Psalm 25:1-2, 7-8, 11)

Reflections for the Epiphany and Pre-Lent Seasons are written by the Rev. George Borghardt, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Conroe, TX and the Higher Things Conferences Executive. Comments may be sent to the author at the following address: revborghardt@higherthings.org

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.

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