RCL Readings Sunday 28 February 2010 (Second Sunday of Lent)
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35

Sunday’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (3:17 – 4:1) follows a longer section where Paul has been warning them to take no notice of those who insist on placing their confidence in outward signs (3:2-3) and past heritage. This was and is an uncomfortable message to people and at first sight may seem to contradict what I said last week in relation to the passage from Deuteronomy (26:1-11) when we were encouraged to remember and recite the story of our faith. The reciting of the story of faith (as Paul does in Phil 3:4-6) should lead, not to a self-satisfaction that all is well because of our ‘history’, but, to a reminder that we need to enter again and again into that relationship with God which is at the heart of the life of faith. So Paul is very conscious that he “presses on” (3:12-14) and he encourages us to follow his example (v.17).

Lent is a time to examine our relationship with God, where we’ve been, where we are, and how we need to “press on”. While the passage could be seen to have a reference to food and eating/fasting (v.19) the main emphasis is where is our prime focus? Is it upon the ways of God and the Kingdom of God or is it upon “earthly things”? Paul speaks about a transformation “He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory” (Phil. 3:21). In this season of Lent be open to that transformation.



So how does transformation take place? It has something to do with exposure to God - 2 Corinthians 3:18 "And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another".

Margaret Silf in her book Taste and See (DLT) writes "Prayer is about coming to rest in the direction of God"

How do we pray in the light of this epistle? Firstly we need to direct our focus upon God and what it means in practical terms to live in the light of the Kingdom of God. Secondly, as you pray about places and people ask yourself: if my “citizenship is in heaven” (3:20) what is an appropriate response to the situations and people I am praying for?

The Gospel passage, Luke 13:31-35, is an intriguing one. Firstly we encounter some Pharisees who are genuinely concerned for Jesus’ wellbeing – not the normal stereotype we have! Let this warn us against stereotyping others and thereby writing them off. Examine the stereotypes you have. Pray for those people and your attitude to and relationship with them.

Secondly note Jesus’ desire regarding Jerusalem despite her past (v.34). Jesus likens himself to a mother hen trying to gather her brood under her wings to protect them and keep them warm and safe. Here we see the pastoral heart of Jesus and that pain he feels as he sees that his people continually reject those that God has sent to them. Prayerfully consider how open you/we are to God and those God sends to us? How willing are we to be “gathered” together under Christ’s wing? What would it mean for you to be gathered under Christ’s wing – how would that feel, what would that bring to you? Try to see the church, the community and the wider world with the eyes and heart of Jesus the mother hen – let that vision shape your prayers and actions this week.