* * * *
* * * *
Welcome to “read the Bible – expand your mind:”
The Book of Common Prayer says that by sharing Holy Communion, Christians become “very members incorporate in the mystical body” of Jesus. The words “corporate” and “mystical” are key. They show that a healthy church has two sides, with the often-overlooked “mystic” side posing the question, “How do I experience God?” This blog will try to answer that.
It has four main themes. The first is that God will accept anyone. (John 6:37.) The second is that God wants us to live lives of abundance.(John 10:10.) The third is that Jesus wants us to read the Bible with an open mind. (As it says in Luke 24:45: “Then He [Jesus] opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”) The fourth theme – another one often overlooked – is that Jesus wants us to do even greater miracles than He did. (John 14:12.)
And this thought ties them together:
The best way to live abundantly and do greater miracles than Jesus is: Read, study and apply the Bible with an open mind. For more see the notes or – to expand your mind – see the Intro.
In the meantime:
“These are the times that try men’s souls.” And that’s not just because we’re starting another season of Lent. But for now, let’s focus on that Lenten period of discipline, fasting and repentance – but mostly as a time for looking ahead to ultimate victory. (And deliverance.) Which brings up a post I did back on April 9, 2017, Psalm 22 and the “Passion of Jesus.”
It noted that Psalm 22 begins, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We know that part because Jesus quoted it on the cross, as told in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34: “About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'” (In the original Aramaic.) What many don’t realize is that Verse 1 goes on: “Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” Which is a feeling many of us can empathize with these days…
But first some background: Scholars think that Psalm 22 was written about 600 years before Jesus was born, in the pre-exilic period; before the Babylonian Exile and so before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. (Or B.C.E. if you prefer.) Which means Psalm 22 seems to be a bit of foreshadowing, “an indication of what is to come.”
On that note, later in the psalm verse 16 notes, “they pierce my hands and my feet.” (Or feet and wrists, depending on the translation of the Greek word “xeiros.”) This was mirrored in John 19:37, “As another Scripture says: ‘They will look on the One they have pierced.’” (See also Isaiah 53:5, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”)
Then there’s verse 18: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” That verse was mirrored in Matthew 27:35: “When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.” (Which sounds like more foreshadowing.)
So, what does all this mean? For one thing it means that despite all the anguish Jesus had to go through, He knew that eventually there would be a happy ending. (“Thinking long-term?”) For another, there’s 1st Corinthians 3:21, “Let no one boast of human leaders,” a thought that could prove useful in those coming days. Then there’s Second Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” All of which Jesus showed – power and love and self-discipline – when He faced His own ordeal.
Which brings up the question, “Can we do anything less?” In our own ordeal, whether that’s limited to the upcoming time of Lent, or maybe something beyond that? But back to the basics. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Season of Lent, about which Wikipedia said:
According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus Christ spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Lent originated as a mirroring of this, fasting 40 days as preparation for Easter.
Lent in turn is a season devoted to “prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial.” But getting back to Jesus “wandering in the Wilderness” for 40 days, those 40 days mirrored the 40 years the Hebrews also spent “wandering around.” (Led by Moses.) But here’s more good news: Eventually those wandering Hebrews found the Promised Land. In much the same way, after 40 long days of penance, Lent leads us to the much-anticipated celebration of Easter, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. (“The Lord is risen … Indeed!”)
And here’s another bit of good news. It’s not 40 straight days of self-denial.
That’s because there are actually 46 days of Lent. 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. And why is that? Because Sundays don’t count. Sundays in Lent are basically “days off,” when you can still enjoy whatever it is you’ve “given up.” For example, if you’ve given up chocolate for Lent, you can still enjoy some chocolate treats on Sundays during Lent.
But back to the Lenten time of discipline, fasting and repentance. One thing that’s especially hard to practice in these times of polarization is that Jesus was Radical in his love for all people. (Even – as I noted before – for those “real pains.” As Paul noted in Romans 5:6, Christ died for the Ungodly, whoever you think they may be.) Jesus simply never got involved in politics. He focused instead on healing the divisions so prevalent during His time on earth.
Which is the kind of radical love Johnny Cash tried to show. The writer of Cash’s Religion and Political Views said, “I like to think that Johnny was above politics and more about people and peace and happiness and cooperation.” Or as Cash’s daughter Rosanne said, her dad didn’t care “where you stood politically.” He could “love all stripes, and that’s why all stripes claim him.”
Something to contemplate during this Lent 2025, as we look ahead to Easter.
* * * *
* * * *
The upper image is courtesy of 40 Days … Image Results.
The Book of Common Prayer reference: The “corporate-mystical” prayer is on page 339, the post-communion prayer for Holy Eucharist, Rite I.
Feast days are designated days on the liturgical (church) calendar “set aside to commemorate events, saints, or doctrines that are important in the life of the Church. These can range from Solemnities, which are the highest-ranking feast days like Easter and Christmas, to optional memorials that celebrate lesser-known saints.” Feast Days: Celebrating the Church’s Calendar.
Re: The quote “these are the times,” see The American Crisis – Wikipedia, about a series of pamphlets by “philosopher and author Thomas Paine, originally published from 1776 to 1783 during the American Revolution.” The main crisis came in the winter of 1776 (before Washington’s victory at Trenton), when American spirits were low and the cause of American democracy seemed destined for extinction. (Not that there’s any connection to current events.)
Re: Lent. See What is Lent? Guide to It’s Meaning and Purpose – Christianity, and Lent – Wikipedia.
For this post I referred to Ash Wednesday – 2022, and Ash Wednesday and Lent – 2023. And a note: The 2017 post “Passion of Jesus” included details about the crucifixion process, including the “translation difficulty” involving the original Greek word usually translated as hand:
“The word xeiros, which we translate to ‘hand’ has a wider semantic range.” Then there is the fact that – anatomically speaking – the “bones and tendons of the hand simply do not have the strength to hold the weight of the body without the nail ripping through. The easiest and strongest place to hammer a nail is through the wrist, between the ulna and radius bones.”
The lower image is courtesy of Johnny Cash – Wikipedia. See also Man in Black (song) – Wikipedia. (I borrowed it from the February 2017 post, Moses at Rephidim: “What if?”)