Lent Week 3—Monday

                 Psalm 77      Genesis 37:1-11      1 Corinthians 1:1-19         Mark 1:1-13

“For the present form of this world is passing away.” New Revised Standard Version. In the Jerusalem Bible, this verse is translated as “the world as we know it is passing away.”  During this stage of the pandemic, I dare say that we all hope that world of the pandemic is passing away.  I can also identify with the Psalmist, feeling separated from God and yet, understanding that God is a god of power and might.  At times during the last couple of years I felt isolated, unable to continue my normal work schedule and travel.  I, like the Psalmist, had to remind myself of the many blessings that come from God and meditate on His mighty deeds.  Our grain sacks are full and our Lord walks with us day and night.

In Genesis, we read of painful times.  Judah and his brothers have come to Egypt to buy grain so that they and their families can survive a terrible famine.  The carry the guilt of their betrayal of their brother Joseph. The plot twist is that it is necessary to negotiate with the very man that they betrayed as a child. Joseph knows them immediately and ultimately teaches them a hard lesson of their own.  They have to beg for mercy from Joseph for their younger brother and their father.  

As we sing with our Grandsons, “Oh the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord for the things I need, the sun the rain and the apple seeds.  The Lord is good to me.  Amen!”

God is good always, all the time.  It can be difficult to remember.  

Murray Viser