Lenten Reflections 2008

When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, "but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place." And he said, "I will do as you have said."          (Genesis 47:29-30)

And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.          (Genesis 45:4-5)

The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.          (Luther’s Small Catechism)

But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Galatians 4:29

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness...”For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."          (Exodus 16:2-3)

And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.          (John 6:11)

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”          (from the Introit for Laetare, the Fourth Sunday in Lent)

[Jesus said,] “To sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." Mark 10:40

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:5

You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do and husband and wife love and honor each other. (Luther’s Small Catechism)

Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.          (Exodus 8:18-19)

[Jesus said,] “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”          (Luke 11:20)

All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.           (Matthew 11:27)

My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.          (Introit for the Third Sunday in Lent)

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread."          (Mark 8:14-16)

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."          (Mark 7:37)

The Fifth Commandment: You shall not murder. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.          (Luther’s Small Cathecism) 

“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.”          (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"           (Genesis 32:25-26) 

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.          (Matthew 15:27)

Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old.          (Introit for Reminiscere, the Second Sunday in Lent)

And the LORD said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward,and eastward, and westward:  For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever.         (Genesis 13:14-15)

The Lord said to Abram: “I will make of you a great nation….”          (Genesis 12:2)

Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities but honor them, serve and obey them, and love and cherish them.          (The Fourth Commandment – Luther’s Small Catechism)

“….behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”          (2 Corinthians 6:2)

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it is was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”          (Genesis 3:6)

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”         Matthew 4:1 

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will deliver him and honor him. (from the Introit for The First Sunday in Lent)

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.          (Genesis 2:6-7)

The Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.          (Luther’s Small Catechism)

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. "          Matthew 6:16