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| Image by Stefanio Avolio |
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A GREETING
I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house, your holy temple.
(Psalm 5:7 var)
A READING
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ [Solomon replied,] O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’
(1 Kings 3:5;7-14)
MUSIC
Sung in Latin, the lyrics are a setting of Psalm 51.
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the people gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you.
(John 10:22-25a)
A REFLECTION
The reality of our lives is that although we will try, try to be faithful, try to follow the way of our Lord, try to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, try to resist temptation, we will sometimes fail. Temptation is subtle, it’s tricky... But that is what this season of Lent is for. It is a time to take stock, to re-evaluate how we are doing in living out our baptismal lives. It is a chance to confess where we have fallen short and begin again with new resolve our day to day walk with our God. It is a time to again draw courage and strength from the example of Jesus.
- from "Temptation," by National Bishop Susan Johnson,
found in the January/February issue of Canada Lutheran
VERSE OF THE DAY
The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
(John 10:25b)
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| Image by fusion-of-horizons |
It was the hope of King David to establish an elaborate temple in Jerusalem that would house the Ark of the Covenant. But it was his son Solomon who decided to complete that task. Like his father, Solomon was a writer: the biblical books of Proverbs, Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) and Ecclesiastes are attributed to him at least in whole or in part. The book known as the Wisdom of Solomon was written much later in the 2nd century BCE, but as if in the voice of Solomon.
But long before the temple, and all that he would accomplish, Solomon reflected on what kind of leader he wanted to be. And as with Jacob yesterday, God appeared to him in a dream. God comes to him, but Solomon does all the talking, asking God for the capacity to be a good leader, with an “understanding mind,” and the ability to discern between good and evil. God is pleased and promises him the same and more.
There are many times in the bible when God appears to reward and/or punish according to deeds. Even in our own lives we can find ourselves thinking, or saying, “Why is God punishing me...?” when times are hard, or "God came through for me...." when something goes well. These can feel helpful in the moment, and there is no doubting the efficacy of prayer! But thinking this way can sometimes cause us to deflect the work we ourselves are doing, and are required to do, in order to stay in right relationships. The work of staying on a path that will lead to abundant life for all is indeed hard work. But the feeling of knowing that we are living into what God calls us to, can itself be rewarding.
Many years after Solomon’s Temple, Jesus would walk in a different, newer temple on the same site, in the place called “portico of Solomon.” It is here that he is asked by the people if he is the Messiah. The festival of Dedication referred to in John 10 is Chanukah. The festival was still relatively new, commemorating events which had occurred less than 200 years before. The question about his identity as messiah, in a place where historically the 'light of the temple' had been extinguished, and then restored, is significant. In the Gospel of John, Jesus becomes the new temple: "‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’" (John 2:19)
The dream of Solomon is one where God can hear and see the truest version of who he is, the child of God who longs to be a good leader. He awakens into a new life in which he now can act with authority, knowing God is at the centre of all he hopes to do. What are the ways in which you know that God is at the centre of all that you do? How can Lent be a time to refresh that knowing?
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A STORY OF ENDURANCE
In 2017, an archeological team discovered the remains of an ancient Celtic church dating to the seventh century, that had been built on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the northeast coast of England. The church itself was a modest structure, built on a precipice instead of inland. The church was believed to have been built by the monks who had located on the island. Also found in the ruins was a signaling tower site. The monks used these towers to send flares to indicate significant events. One such flare was known to have been sent when St. Cuthbert died. a return flare would mean that the message had been received by the monks on the Farne Islands. This primitive form of communication helped to create connections, and remind the monks of each remote location that they were not alone, but belonged to a community that was much bigger. Read more about the discovery here.
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LC† Awakened by the Spirit is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!