28 February 2021 Devotion for The Second Sunday of Lent Reminiscere
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ
Our watchword for this Second Sunday of Lent is taken from the Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 5 verse, “But God shows and clearly proves His own love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ, (The Messiah, The Anointed One), died for us,” Amplified Bible. This is the Good News, the Gospel; it is Christ’s work for us, we cannot save ourselves, it is therefore given in grace to all. This gift of salvation is for “whosever,” everyone. We are accepted and redeemed through God’s love and the Work of Christ on the Cross for us. The thief on the cross, next to Jesus, received the revelation of Who Christ was and what Christ did, and asked Jesus to remember him in Paradise. Jesus told him that he was accepted and forgiven and free to enter paradise, (Luke 23 verse 43).
The Name of this Sunday, Reminiscere, is taken from the Introit for this Sunday, Psalm 25 verse 6, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from old.” The Latin Vulgate translation reads: “Reminiscere miserationum,” or directly translated, “remember your compassion”. There, on the Cross, in the deepest pain, Christ gave his mercy and compassion to a man that received no mercy and compassion, but was given the death penalty. Through Jesus’ death, He gives life! He gave eternal life to a sinner condemned and promised him reconciliation with God and humanity in paradise. This is what we celebrate as we walk the road to the Cross with Jesus during this Lenten time, his power of death, destruction and decay. This is Easter joy; we shall not perish, but receive life everlasting.
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 43 verse 5, “Do not fear, for I am with you,” (NRSVB). This chapter opens with the assurance that God has called us by name and will save us, therefore we need not fear, for we are precious in God’s sight! This is gospel to our ears, for we are fearful beings. There are so many things in and of the world and its principalities that cause us to be frightened, anxious and worried. “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world,” (John 16 verse 33). Being in the world means one lives being in danger of suffering and despair, it is universal. It is in living this life, with all its sorrow and fears, and its joys and hopes, that the Christian can always be joyful and unafraid, for God promises to sustain his children to the end.
The Apostle Paul explains our situation in this world as follow: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed,” Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 4 verses 8 to 9, (NRSVB). There are times when we feel like Paul: we are hedged in and we do not know which way to turn to flee from the oppression, but this does not cause us to become crushed in spirit and pained in our minds. We are puzzled and suffer embarrassments and are not able to understand why these situations occur, but it does not drive us into despair. We are persecuted, but we know that we are not deserted, we do not stand alone. Even if we feel, like a boxer in the fighting ring, that we are hit against the ropes, we are not struck down and counted out by the enemy in this fight of living life. We are fighting the good fight and running the race with, in and under the guidance and protection of our Lord.
Father, remember us in your loving-kindness and mercy. Sustain us as we bear our cross on earth. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, Your Son, lifted on the Cross, Amen.
