1^st Sunday in February (Romans 1:16, 17; 8:1-39 and Luke 4:1-15)

Every month seems to carry its own temptations, but February’s temptations seem particularly severe. In the northern hemisphere the weather is generally dreary, the school and work load seems particularly oppressive, and the routine becomes overpowering. In the southern hemisphere, the school year begins, summer holidays wane, and its back to business. People are tempted to escape, holiday, forget, and run away. The temptation may be to eat too much, boast too much, or do too much, but behind all of that is the deeper temptation to get negative, feel depressed, give in to despair, and commit suicide. Jesus was not just tempted with everyday temptations, but with February temptations, yet with out despairing. Why was he so optimistic?

Team Meditation (Luke 4:1-15)

Ephrem the Syrian (4^th century) was one of the first and best Christian poets and hymn writers, also writing commentaries on the Bible at the very time when Constantine legitimized Christianity in the Roman world. He asks an interesting question. Why did the Devil wait? Why did Satan wait until Jesus was 30 years old to really tempt him? Jesus was hidden among the ordinary for 30 years, and suddenly in his baptism he was revealed to be extraordinary. He was the only human to want to be baptized, without needing to be baptized. He had no sin from which to be cleansed, yet he humbled himself so that all humanity could identify with him, and ultimately, through the cross, be saved through him. Satan tempts us all at the moment when we become extraordinary … at the beginning of a school year, at the start of a new career, at a turning point in our lives. And Satan chooses the lowest point, the most vulnerable spot, tempting us where he thinks we will be weakest. Yet the devil misjudges his temptations. Jesus is immune. And best of all, we, too, can be immune to depression and despair the more closely we are tied to this amazing Jesus, for whom bread and boasting and power are irrelevant compared to the surpassing worth of God’s presence.

Worship Theme (Romans 1:16–17; 8:1–39)

The more affluent we become, the more depressed we get. That is a paradox we cannot seem to understand or accept. We think that if we were only better fed, higher paid, or more powerful that the world would be at our doorstep and we would be happy. Yet we are not. More rich people commit suicide than poor people. Poor people die for many reasons, but rarely through suicide. Rich people avoid death in many ways, but end up drinking, eating, drugging, driving, or just sleeping themselves to death. How can it be that wealth and power might actually lead to depression and despair? This is the devil’s handiwork.

The secret is not in wealth or power, but in closeness to Christ. We can resist depression and despair, so long as we hold tight to Christ. Because of Christ, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. Not poverty; nor wealth; nor sickness; nor good health. Not persecution; nor security; nor ignorance; nor knowledge. Nothing can cause us to despair, so long as we resist the temptations to worship many gods, and cling to Christ and Christ alone.

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2^nd Sunday in February (Luke 15:11-32 and Luke 19:1-10) 

Many are familiar with this story, but misunderstand its significance. We call it the parable of the prodigal son, as if the focus of the story was the younger son. We identify quickly with the wayward child, and like a little child, we think God’s story of salvation is “all about me”. Yet it isn’t. There are other people involved, other children, other servants, other strangers. It’s not about me. It’s about God. It’s about God magnanimity to those who are close and those who are far. When Valentine’s Day comes, consider this demonstration of the meaning of real love! 

Team Meditation (Luke 19:1-10) 

It is one thing to tell stories, and another thing to demonstrate by actions. Jesus tells a parable about a prodigal child, but he demonstrates the magnanimity of God’s love himself. In a sense, this historical situation IS the parable. Zacchaeus is the prodigal child. He would be included among prostitutes and pig farmers in a Pharisees description of total depravity. Yet he comes to himself and repents. Cyril of Alexandria (writing 412-444 AD) points out the symbolic significance of his climbing a sycamore tree. It is a dangerous act, and a foolish one. It calls forth public mockery. Yet he must literally “rise above” the world, and only then captures Jesus’ attention. And Jesus rushes to embrace him. He goes all the way to Zacchaeus’ own home, enduring the mockery of others, in order to leave no doubt whatsoever that Zacchaeus is now part of the family of God. Benevolence begets benevolence, and now Zacchaeus demonstrates his own love by giving away his wealth. He becomes even more generous than the righteous Pharisees.  

Worship Theme (Luke 15:11-32) 

Luke 15:20  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

This is the crux of the story. The younger son needed to come to himself and repent. Surely the Holy Spirit was in this repentance, but it was the young wastrel himself who had to make the decision. He had to recognize his degradation, face his mistakes, and feel his loneliness. Yet he full, and rightly, expected to be rejected by his father. He knew he deserved his fate. He hoped against hope. The real crisis of the story is this doubt, which is so quickly erased by the magnanimous, overflowing, generous love of the father. The son may initiate repentance, but it is the father who initiates reconciliation and acceptance. He leaves no doubt whatsoever, but he rushes to his son while he is still far away. This love of God is an aggressive love, and energetic love, and an all forgiving love. It may be that the elder son did not realize the magnanimity of his father’s love. After all, he had never tested it. He is surprised by it. Yet he comes to realize that it is not that he is loved less, but that his father loves so very much more. More than either he or his brother ever imagined. 

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3^rd Sunday in February 6 (Deuteronomy 5:1-21, 6:1-9 and Luke 12:35-13:5) 

Chinese New Year is regarded as a turnaround event. It is a time of reflection, and then celebration, as we rejoice in a fresh start. Among Christians, it is also the beginning of Lent, which most secular and pagan people regard with some amusement and cynicism. It is supposedly a time of reflection and repentance, but most churchy people do little of both, which is probably why Easter may be pleasant but is rarely joyous. No pain, no gain. 

Team Meditation (Luke 12:35-13:5) 

People who don’t know any better, and misbehaved, deserve a lesser punishment. But people who did know better, and still misbehaved, deserve the greater punishment. More is expected of them. They are supposed to be models and mentors for the others. If the Christians behave just like the pagans, should they not be judged more harshly for their mistakes? Jesus raises the standard for Christians. Cyril of Alexandria (5^th century) understood Jesus’ words metaphorically and applied them to daily spiritual discipline. Jesus means that we should be physically, mentally, and spiritually alert. We prepare ourselves continually through persistent spiritual discipline and constant good works. Keeping the lamp lit implies keeping the mind awake and intellectually open, so that the Christian leader never dozes off to miss the opportunities to share God’s love. 

Worship Theme (Deuteronomy 5:1-21, 6:1-9) 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5  ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  ⁵ And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 

There are two basic principles for the truly authentic spiritual life. The first is to be wholly and completed dedicated to the Lord, and therefore ready to focus all your attention and spend all your energy on God and what God expects. The second is to use this clarity about God’s expectation as a standard of accountability against which you will measure your lifestyle, relationships, and career.  

The spiritual life is really not a matter of rules, liturgies, sacrifices, or obligations. In fact, there can be remarkable freedom … but only within the boundaries of God’s love. Ironically, the more we ignore God and quest for the seeming freedom of whatever our heart desires, the more we become enslaved to this passion, that dependency, or some drug. Yet the more we surrender to God, and align ourselves with God’s purpose, the more we free ourselves from the clutches of desire and the intimidation of the world. 

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4^th Sunday in February (Hosea 4 and 14, Luke 7:36-50) 

Modern people have a different attitude toward prostitutes than in ancient times, and we need to know the difference to understand the radical love of God. Today television and film has made prostitution into an acceptable, perhaps even honored, profession, just as ancient Romans and pagans legitimized prostitution in their temples. Ancient Israelites and Christians, however, often considered prostitutes to beyond the pale of decency and the least likely to be forgiven. It is more accurage to compare ancient attitudes toward prostitutes to modern attitudes toward drug dealers and child abusers. We abhor them. And that is how ancient people abhorred prostitutes. Now we begin to understand God’s radical love.

Team Meditation (Luke 7:36-50)

St. Ambrose (Bishop of Milan 374-397 AD) preached in what was then one of the great cathedrals of the empire, with royalty sitting before him. Yet he loved this story of a prostitute anointing the feet of Jesus, and gloried in the scandal of the Pharisee host. For him, the woman represented the church itself, composed of people who love much because they have been forgiven much. The church washes the feet of Christ when they care for the wounded and caress the weary and moisten their parched flesh with the sweetness of grace. The custom of the church has been to practice the “kiss of peace” in the liturgy, but goes much further than that. The true believer stoops to kiss the very feet of Christ, humiliating oneself in order to truly exalt the Savior.

Worship Theme (Hosea 4 and 14)

Hosea compares God’s love for Israel, the church, and the world to be as radical as the love between Hosea and his prostitute wife. Remember, the ancient attitude toward prostitutes would be akin to modern attitudes toward the very worst abusers and offenders today. It is as if we were the worst of the worst, deserving only punishment and anger and rejection. Yet just as Hosea remains loyal to the covenant of marriage, so God remains loyal to the covenant of love he has for the world. God will never stop his quest for the redemption of the world … the whole world, even the worst parts of the world, and every creature within it. That is the extent of God’s love. Those who are beyond the pale of acceptance can still be accepted by God.