At first sight, a rather odd collection readings today:
Psalm 22: 23-31
Genesis 15: 1 - 6, 12-18
Romans 3: 21 - 31
The extract from the Psalm is very positive, a surprise for those who know only the beginning of Psalm 22 as the 'cry of dereliction' uttered by Jesus Christ during his agonising crucifixion. The mood of the psalm shifts abruptly from despair and lament to bold faith. I fear that to read either in isolation is to miss part of what is intended.
The Romans passage is a lovely (imo) description of a sola fide, sola gratia understanding of salvation. Actually, I have to confess to liking the book of Romans, even when parts of it are rather challenging and cause me to go 'yes but... no but... oh but...' I may well be using this passage (among others) when I ponder my sermon on sin and grace...
So it is actually to the Genesis reading that I turn for today's reflection. It's always curious when the lectionary skips over some verses mid-passage, and here it is a description of a rather bizarre sacrificial ritual that Abraham undertakes in between a vision (vv 1 -6) and a dream (vv 12 - 18). The vision is full of hope - the promise of descendants that outnumber the stars - the dream more of a nightmare - fore-telling the slavery (in Egypt, not named) and the many generations before they would return to place Abraham now was). I think the reason this passage strikes me is not the detail of the vision and the dream, but their proximity. Hope and fear, success and failure, life and death, joy and sorrow... they are not neatly defined opposites as if one displaces the other, but somehow they co-exist in near proximity at all times. To have descendants that out-number the stars - wow... that those descendants will be slaves - gulp. If that is to be so, do I really want them then? If the path of promise is also a path of suffering, will I choose it? But then that is, in part, what Lent is about... that God's path of promise was also God's path of suffering...
When I was in Dibley, one of the best loved worship songs, and one they introduced me to, was this:
You may not be a Kendrick fan, but it is song that has helped many people face the challenge of the interplay of ups and downs that are real life. It reminds me of people I love, so it is very precious.
God of Abraham
God of Sarah
God of Jesus
God in Christ
So easily we look for promsies of abundance
And overlook the sting the tail
That joy and sorrow are intertwined
That laughter and tears must co-exist
That life and death are never opposites
That what we hope for may bring anxiety
That what we most fear may surprise us with fulfilment
In the whole of life
Assure us of your companionship
Let is never grow complacent in prosperity
Or bitter in adversity
But always walk
One day at a time
With you.