Lent will rather quickly be upon us, and as such, constitutes a very good time to re-examine our lives, our priorities and our habits. In the latter case, Psalm 19 says some very pertinent things about our habits, particularly those that 'happen' to be sinful. Verse 13, in the Contemporary English Version (CEV), says 'don't let me do wrong on purpose.' (Other translations render this as 'presumptuous sins' or 'wilful sins'.) That is clear enough, but what about those sins referred to in verse 12, as 'when I sin without knowing it' (translated as 'hidden faults' or 'secret faults' in several other translations)?

It is those inadvertent or unintentional sins that are the subject of today's meditation, sins of word perhaps, or of association, or even of goals or of purchases. Anyway, I think that here is lots of food for thought, reflection and prayer. Happy going.

A widely held, but totally erroneous--and terribly misleading and destructive--notion is that only certain people are 'called' to ministry, and that only certain activities actually 'qualify' as ministry. This notion, as I said, is erroneous and destructive--because it leaves out many people and much of life. I like to think that all of us are involved in ministry and that all of our lives and work qualify. Here I think back to a couple of past parishioners. One was a school nurse who'd never thought of her work in attending to students' medical and health needs, and often their emotional and social needs as well (such as offering a listening ear or a comforting hug or holding the student's hand) as ministry. Or the president of the Alberta Cattleman's Association who likewise never thought of his role there as ministry. And yet he was largely in large of maintaining standards and requirements for the industry.

Today we look at Matthias--and his also-ran, Justus. They show up very, very briefly in the annals of history, but then are gone, seemingly unimportant, unnoticed and forgotten. But I believe their ministries--and the ministries of each one of us--are important, and necessary, in God's eyes, and likewise important, and necessary, for our church and our world. So, take heart and continue on: you are important.

When trouble and difficulties seem to swirl around us continually, it is sometimes hard to keep our focus on God, and choose to keep on trusting in Him and in His word. Psalm 119 always seems to have a myriad of messages for us, but this is the one that seemed to leap out at me today: to keep on trusting Him no matter what.

Today's passage, and meditation, strike at the heart of our Christian lives. How do we love people with whom we profoundly disagree--and may, at times, be openly critical and hostile toward their beliefs and the choices they have made? We have already seen this with regards to covid and the resulting restrictions but now are faced with it in even greater clarity with regards to the Ottawa truck protest and its allies. I know that families and friendships have been split over this and communities as well (such as Coutts, Alberta). (One Ontario senator was actually caught on tape publicly denouncing his own wife for holding a view that is contrary to his. I must say that I would not want to be his household just now!) But there's the rub: just how do we love those, including our fellow Christians, with whom we profoundly disagree? I'm afraid that I don't have a final answer, but maybe it's something that we can work on, together. My prayers are with us all as we try to do this.

Today's meditation also addresses the question of our openness to what God is saying, especially on the question of our obeying Him and trusting in His word and His wisdom, and allowing Him to correct and guide us. I suspect that we are not always very good at this, preferring instead to trust in our own wisdom and understanding.

The apostle James uses two images to describe how the word of God works in our lives. He likens it to a mirror that shows us what we are like and he likens it to a two-edged sword that pierces to the centre of our being. Both images invite us to look at ourselves in light of what God has to say. Today's meditation, about Joseph and his brothers, speaks of our openness to what God is doing, to our acceptance of it, and to our willingness to forgive and move on in light of it. I mean, who would have ever expected Joseph to behave in this way? Few would have expected him to see the hand of God in his brothers' treachery or in the many adversities that he suffered.

Here is one of the more challenging pieces of Scripture, though it may not seem that way at first. Here John is calling us to love one another, and not just with talk and good intentions but in action. So, here is the hard part: how do we demonstrate love, act in a loving manner, with those with whom we disagree, whether politically or theologically or on any other basis? We might choose to limit this just to fellow Christians, fellow church members, but I have heard some very unloving comments even there. So, how do we do what John says, and love each other? That's the challenge probably for most, if not all of us, especially in this very fractured and antagonistic time.

today's meditation speaks on our accountability towards God

Today’s meditation talks about the lordship of Christ, but not in the abstract--in reality!

James in his letter to believers likens the word of God to a mirror, a mirror that shows us what we look like, what we are. Certainly, I find that this is true with regards to God's written word, the Holy Scriptures. I find that they really do reveal the truth. But, then, as with a mirror, we have to decide what to do with what we have seen.

Today focuses on our need of God (and how we need to admit that need--and act on it!)

Then, in today's passage, John's account of Jesus healing the man born blind, I heard loud and clear an injunction to avoid labeling others and to instead undertake the difficult task of listening, especially listening to those that we don't see eye to eye with.

Our reading today, from 1 John, sort of echoed yesterday, but in a more 'spiritual' sense, with its idea of 'sharing'. Most of us have grown up with the idea that sharing is most important, but just how far do we take this? For many of us, sharing when it becomes uncomfortable, and especially when it comes to a verbal witness to Christ, is often something we shy away from.

Someone once said (here I paraphrase, because I don't have the precise words) that the function of the gospel is to 'afflict the comfortable' and to 'comfort' the afflicted. Well, I was surprised--and not entirely delighted--to get the sense that our three meditations for today do exactly that:

The central part of Luke's Gospel on Sunday, the so-called Sermon on the Plain, emphasized something of the injustices of our present world, and to me, at least, seemed to call out a response on our part, of 'working for justice.'

Today's passage talks about our differences of opinion, often in seemingly inconsequential items, and how we need to show grace to each other. After all, God has already shown such grace to us.

Today's passage from Genesis talked about God's unmerited favour, His grace, towards a totally undeserving person, namely Jacob. He was a scoundrel if there ever was one. He certainly didn't merit or deserve God's grace, but then neither do any of us. That's the nature of grace.

It seems as if 'weariness' is the name of the game these days. I find that this sentiment envelopes me every time February rolls around, but this time its worse. There's the business of the weather, of course, but also with having to basically either be locked down or very careful, it's easy to be wearied by all of it. And then all the flack and controversy of all the public discourse these days, plus the restrictions on worship and church activities, it is hard not get weary these days. This is something that the apostle Paul knew well and addressed in today's passage. I hope you find my meditation on this helpful and inspiring.

In today's meditation we see the other side of the coin, namely that whether we look at the personal side of things, or the corporate, we do have some responsibilities. And both of these injunctions stem from one source, that is, the mercies of God. Because of the mercies we should go lightly on judging, and because of the mercies of God, we should respond in certain ways--all of it, therefore, arising from what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.

In today's meditation we get the idea that we should 'cut each other a bit of slack', for we all fall short (sin) and flub it from time to time. (And this is just for others, but for ourselves as well).

Today, I hear something similar to yesterday, namely that in all of life's little duties and responsibilities, Christ is always there for us and can be depended upon to help us in carrying them out. Indeed, we can throw our weight upon Him because He is everything we need. For me, as someone who often tries to be self-sufficient (and 'do it myself', thank you very much), a stubborn Englishman at heart, this is quite a wake-up call.

I am reminded that our very brokenness, sinfulness, and frailty as humans should serve as a reminder of just how much we need a Saviour. This realization should impel us to place our trust and faith in Him and rely wholly upon Him.