2nd Sunday in Lent | Sunday 13 March 2022
Today is Sunday the 13th of March, beginning the second week of Lent.
The Kyiv Chamber Choir sing the Creed: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth." As I start this prayer today, can I join in with this strong, almost exuberant expression of faith? Can I begin by declaring my faith in my God, my creator, my heavenly Father?
Today's reading is from the Book of Genesis.
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
He brought him outside and said, 'Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, 'I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.' But he said, 'O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?' He said to him, 'Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.' He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates…'
In today's reading, God is talking to Abram, whom you probably know as Abraham; but that came later. Abram is a bit fed up because he doesn't see any sign of the promised offspring. So, God takes him outside and tells him to count the stars… have you ever been somewhere where you can see lots of stars at night? A moment when you were overawed by the beauty of the skies at night? Imagine this for a moment…
Then God tells him, "So shall your descendants be". Do you think that would have helped Abram? Imagine being in Abram's place now, looking up at those stars, receiving these words…
See what happens next: "he believed the Lord - And the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness". Might that help you on your journey?
The story ends, "the Lord made a covenant with Abram". How does that make you feel?
Now listen as the story is read once more: God tells Abram, "I am the Lord". As you pray over it, what difference does this statement make?
Today is Sunday the 13th of March, beginning the second week of Lent.
The Kyiv Chamber Choir, sing the Creed: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth." As I start this prayer today, can I join in with this strong, almost exuberant expression of faith? Can I begin by declaring my faith in my God, my creator, my heavenly Father?
Today's reading is from the Book of Genesis.
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
He brought him outside and said, 'Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, 'I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.' But he said, 'O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?' He said to him, 'Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.' He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates…'
In today's reading, God is talking to Abram, whom you probably know as Abraham; but that came later. Abram is a bit fed up because he doesn't see any sign of the promised offspring. So, God takes him outside and tells him to count the stars… have you ever been somewhere where you can see lots of stars at night? A moment when you were overawed by the beauty of the skies at night? Imagine this for a moment…
Then God tells him, "So shall your descendants be". Do you think that would have helped Abram? Imagine being in Abram's place now, looking up at those stars, receiving these words…
See what happens next: "he believed the Lord - And the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness". Might that help you on your journey?
The story ends, "the Lord made a covenant with Abram". How does that make you feel?
Now listen as the story is read once more: God tells Abram, "I am the Lord". As you pray over it, what difference does this statement make?
Finally, try to gather all the thoughts and feelings that are rising in you just now; can you express them as a prayer to God?
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
Finally, try to gather all the thoughts and feelings that are rising in you just now; can you express them as a prayer to God?
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.