Links for today’s readings:
Read: Exodus 24 Listen: (2:48) Read: Luke 6 Listen: (6:46)
Scripture Focus: Exodus 24.11b
…They saw God, and they ate and drank.
John 3.14-15
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
From John: We return today to this Lenten prayer from 2019 that is rewritten and expanded to apply to any time of the year. Desert and wilderness times are not always of our choosing or on the calendar. But in our deserts, we can meet with God in a special way.
Reflection: Seeing God in the Wilderness — A Guided Prayer
By John Tillman
The observance of Lent is like entering a desert or wilderness on a spiritual quest. There is much to learn from the Spirit of God in the desert places of our lives.
Desert or wilderness times can come, planned or unplanned, at any time of year. Pray to the Lord, in the wilderness of Lent or in unexpected wilderness times. God meets with us in the desert as he did the elders of Israel.
Guided Prayer
Lord, we have entered the desert. We wander in a wilderness. Like Israel, we desert what has enslaved us. We come to a desert place to meet with you.
“Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance…”
Israel came to a forbidden and foreboding mountain. Only a few could see your face.
“[They] went up and saw the God of Israel…But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.”
But now, Jesus, you extend your hand, inviting us to a joy-filled city, where we will dine with the Lord.
In Lenten and desert times, Lord, we have the opportunity to leave behind worldly things we cling to. We partake of your presence and the heavenly food and drink that is doing the will of God.
If we cling to earthly things, we walk with our heads down—focused on what we can hold. Watching it crumble to dust.
In Lent and in the wilderness, remind us that we are born again and raise our eyes to heavenly things.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Let your Holy Spirit refresh our eyes to see what you see.
Let your Holy Spirit tell us of heavenly things and prepare us to understand them.
“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
May we lift you up, to draw those around us to you.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living. — Psalm 116.8
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Our Opportunistic Opponent
By Christ’s mercy we can resist Satan and he will flee. But just as when Satan left Jesus in the wilderness, he is only waiting for an opportune time to return.
Read more: In Medias Res
Jesus goes into the desert and to the cross to face our consequences and win our victory. He faces what we flee. He obtains what we pursue. He repairs what we wreck.
