Dear God, I have a funeral to attend today. It’s one of those where I know the husband pretty well, and while it will be hard and sad to say goodbye to his dear wife, it will be a privilege to be there for him and his children. Please live through me today, Father. Live through me today with my wife, with my work, with my children, and with my friends. “Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”

Here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

• AM Psalms: 121, 122, 123
• PM Psalms: 124, 125, 126
• Jeremiah 25:8-17
• John 9:18-41
• Romans 10:1-13

Psalms 121, 122, 123 – I had two thoughts while I read these psalms this morning. The first was about a workshop I went to yesterday about mental health needs and resources in our community. Our children are struggling. Our children need help. Those who care for them need help. Their parents. Their teachers. Their church youth workers and Sunday school teachers. There is a lot of pain, and the church actually has the answer, but I fear that they American Evangelical church is offering the wrong answer right now. It is offering more rules. It’s not offering what Jesus taught us to offer. Oh, Father, help us offer you to them. Reconciliation to you. Freedom in you. And when I say them, I mean not only the children, but their parents, teachers, youth leaders, and Sunday school teachers.

My other through was from what David said in 122: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'” I just picture the scene of one of David’s friends, advisors, confidants, or whatever talking with him and saying, “Let’s go to the house of the LORD,” and David lighting up with that idea. It paints a great scene.

Psalms 124, 125, 126 – From this group, I am reminded of how you provide for me personally and the nonprofit where I work. One of our current campaigns is not going well, and there is a tendency in my heart to panic. But I have to ask myself the questions: Am I trusting in you in this moment? Have I taken too much credit for what has come before? Oh, Father, if I have taken any credit for the good you have done to our clinic, please let me know. If I am not trusting you enough, I am sorry. I do trust you, oh God. I repent of attaching my ego to our fundraising success. I am sorry.

Jeremiah 25:8-17 – As I was flipping through Jeremiah today and remembering how long the book is, it just made me think about this poor prophet’s life. There was no “best life now” for him except that he got to live in your presence and hear directly from you. But I would imagine that his daily check-in with friends on his emotional health would not have been filled with much good news. I am unbelievably fortunate to live the life I live.

John 9:18-41 – Reading the story of the blind man healed and the Pharisees being so upset about it makes me think about how all of us in the church can get focused on the wrong priorities–including me. Holy Spirit, please speak to me. Teach me. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see.

Romans 10:1-13 – I just have to reprint verses 1-4 here: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. I seem to be coming back to this theme this morning. Perhaps it is my own biases that are bringing me here, but I am simply concerned about some in your church who are acting like Pharisees but can’t see it. Holy Spirit, help me to hear you clearly, repent where I need to repent and then act when I need to act. And let anything I do be done in your love.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen