Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for the week, following the Third Sunday of Lent, is taken from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9 verse 62, “Jesus said to him: No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,” (Amplified Bible). This is also the Gospel Reading for this Sunday and tells of a man who came and told Jesus that he wanted to follow him. Jesus warned him that “foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head,” implying that the same would apply to Jesus’ followers. Many came and promised to become followers of Christ once when they had settled matters of home and business, and had arrived at the correct time to serve Christ in their planning. Jesus explained that following him must happen immediately. One can’t wait, or be in two minds, looking back. In some Christian religious practices this Sunday is called “scrutiny Sunday.” We need to scrutinize our walk as we follow Christ, and forget the old life, the life without Christ. One should not look back, as the Israelites did in the desert, desiring the meat and herbs they enjoyed in Egypt in the time of their slavery.
The Third Sunday of Lent is called Oculi . This name is taken from the Introit Psalm 25 verse 15, “My eyes are forever toward the Lord.” In Latin it reads, “Oculi mei semper ad Dominum.” (Psalm 24, verse 15, in the Vulgate and Septuagint, due to the different numbering system used in these traditions). The Word of the God has many references to the word “eyes.” We are comforted by God’s eyes beholding us, to bless us. God guides us with this eye. We are so precious to him that we are like the apple of his eye. As God’s ever-seeing eyes are on us, likewise our mortal and spiritual eyes should be focused on him, so that we can follow him on his path to Jerusalem. We have to keep our eyes on our Shepherd who walks ahead of us, “Yes, our eyes are forever toward the Lord.”
The Old Testament Reading for Oculi Sunday is taken from the First Book of Kings, Chapter 19. Elijah begged God to take his life, for he could not stand the terrible persecution that he had to endure. God allowed Elijah to rest and sent angels with bread and water to refresh him. This heavenly food gave him strength to travel for forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb. There God revealed himself to Elijah in the “sound of a gentle stillness and a still, small voice,” as we read in verse 12. As God kept his eye on Elijah, and Elijah turned his eyes to the Lord, Elijah was strengthened to complete his mission on earth. Jesus Christ, like Elijah, was strengthened by the Angel in the Garden as he was praying as to fulfil his work on earth and reconcile humanity with God. Scripture is filled with narratives of God’s protection of those who keep their eyes on Him.
Our watchword for this Sunday is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chapter One verse 17, “Stand up, Jeremiah, and tell them everything I command you,” (NRSVB). God revealed his messages to Jeremiah in visions, and Jeremiah faithfully told God’s revelations to the people, warning them of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, if they would not turn and repent and take heed of the signs and symbols that he had warned would precede the destruction. Jesus warned, when his attention was drawn to the temple, in Mark 13 verse 1, “Look, Teacher! Notice the sort and quality of these stones and buildings,” that nothing would remain. The disciples had to, “Look to yourselves, be on guard; I have told you everything. Watch out and pray, for you do not know when the time will come,” Mark 13 verses 23 and 33, (Amplified Bible).
Keep our eyes on you; guide us in our watching and waiting for you, oh Lord, Amen.