Daily Reflection for March 29 or Day 82
Daily Blog – Day 82, Joshua 13-15,
Psalm 69, John 3
For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;
And his servants
shall dwell there and possess it;
The children of his servants shall inherit
it, And those who love his name shall dwell in it. (Psalm 69:35-36)
Call it Zion, the Promised Land, the Garden of Eden, or the Kingdom of God, it is metaphorically where our salvation history delivers us back into intimate communion with our God. This is the common thread that ties our readings together for this 82nd day. It is also Good Friday, and our liturgical observances drive home powerfully that it is faith in the sacrifice of Christ the Lamb of God upon the cross that ushers us into that Kingdom where the eternal gifts of peace, reconciliation, and wholeness are found and experienced.
The assigned three chapters of Joshua begin the stories of the distribution
of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, even though many of these
tribal territories are yet unconquered. The point however with this book is more
theological than historical. It bears witness to Israel’s faith in a God who
intends to establish his kingly rule upon earth by clearly exhibiting his power
and by sharing that power with them through the acceptance of their covenanted
relationship. Faithfulness to God means sharing in kingdom living by having the
land promised to their ancestors.
With John, Chapter 3, we have Nicodemus, a devout Jew and secret
follower. He understood what the Kingdom of God was, but he did not
understand what being "born again" meant, and how that was applicable to
entering into the Kingdom. In typical fashion he responded with an earthly
response. The Kingdom of God was God's promised blessing and salvation to the
Nation of Israel. He was plainly puzzled by being told he could not enter
the Kingdom unless he was "born again." We must understand that Nicodemus as a
good Jew believed that his birth as a Jew assured him a place in the promised
Kingdom. He prided himself in keeping the Old Testament Law and being
morally upright and religious. However, he did not see that entrance into
the Kingdom came by a spiritual rebirth and transformation brought about by
grace through faith in God's promises. He did not understand the concept
of spiritual birth. His response to Jesus shows he had no spiritual
understanding of the things of God. With the last few days of Holy
Week, and especially today, we enter into that profound mystery of God’s
love. We know that within days the New Covenant is sealed by the Blood of
the Lamb with his resurrection victory over sin, evil, and death. We are
transformed again, renewed in our Baptismal promises, and our hearts and lives
again will dance in the joyous presence of God ‘s Kingdom here on earth. I
close with this poem called The Kingdom of God.
Through storm and sun the age draws on
When Heaven and earth shall
meet,
For the Lord has said that glorious
He will make the place of His
feet;
And the grass may die on the summer hills,
The flower fade by the
river,
But our God is the same through endless years,
And His word shall
stand forever.
And they shall meet in love that knows
Nor race nor creed nor
clime,
For the world shall be one brotherhood
In that celestial
time;
And happiness shall be the air,
And righteousness the sod,
And
earth go singing on her way
About the throne of God!
"What of the night?" O Watchman set
To mark dawn's earliest ray:
"The
wind blows fair from the morning star,
Fair from the gates of day;
And
over sorrow and sighing shines
The Dream of Galilee--
The Kingdom of God
that shall fill the earth
As the waters fill the sea."
- Edna
Dean Proctor (1838-1923)
May this Holy Triduum embrace you in the extravagance of God’s grace and
love.
The Very Rev. Dr. William L. Stomski,
Chaplain and Sacred Studies
Educator, Saint Joseph’s Episcopal School, Boynton Beach
Dean of the Diocesan
School for Christian Studies
Daily Blog – Day 82, Joshua 13-15,
Psalm 69, John 3
For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;
And his servants
shall dwell there and possess it;
The children of his servants shall inherit
it, And those who love his name shall dwell in it. (Psalm 69:35-36)
Call it Zion, the Promised Land, the Garden of Eden, or the Kingdom of God, it is metaphorically where our salvation history delivers us back into intimate communion with our God. This is the common thread that ties our readings together for this 82nd day. It is also Good Friday, and our liturgical observances drive home powerfully that it is faith in the sacrifice of Christ the Lamb of God upon the cross that ushers us into that Kingdom where the eternal gifts of peace, reconciliation, and wholeness are found and experienced.
The assigned three chapters of Joshua begin the stories of the distribution
of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, even though many of these
tribal territories are yet unconquered. The point however with this book is more
theological than historical. It bears witness to Israel’s faith in a God who
intends to establish his kingly rule upon earth by clearly exhibiting his power
and by sharing that power with them through the acceptance of their covenanted
relationship. Faithfulness to God means sharing in kingdom living by having the
land promised to their ancestors.
With John, Chapter 3, we have Nicodemus, a devout Jew and secret
follower. He understood what the Kingdom of God was, but he did not
understand what being "born again" meant, and how that was applicable to
entering into the Kingdom. In typical fashion he responded with an earthly
response. The Kingdom of God was God's promised blessing and salvation to the
Nation of Israel. He was plainly puzzled by being told he could not enter
the Kingdom unless he was "born again." We must understand that Nicodemus as a
good Jew believed that his birth as a Jew assured him a place in the promised
Kingdom. He prided himself in keeping the Old Testament Law and being
morally upright and religious. However, he did not see that entrance into
the Kingdom came by a spiritual rebirth and transformation brought about by
grace through faith in God's promises. He did not understand the concept
of spiritual birth. His response to Jesus shows he had no spiritual
understanding of the things of God. With the last few days of Holy
Week, and especially today, we enter into that profound mystery of God’s
love. We know that within days the New Covenant is sealed by the Blood of
the Lamb with his resurrection victory over sin, evil, and death. We are
transformed again, renewed in our Baptismal promises, and our hearts and lives
again will dance in the joyous presence of God ‘s Kingdom here on earth. I
close with this poem called The Kingdom of God.
Through storm and sun the age draws on
When Heaven and earth shall
meet,
For the Lord has said that glorious
He will make the place of His
feet;
And the grass may die on the summer hills,
The flower fade by the
river,
But our God is the same through endless years,
And His word shall
stand forever.
And they shall meet in love that knows
Nor race nor creed nor
clime,
For the world shall be one brotherhood
In that celestial
time;
And happiness shall be the air,
And righteousness the sod,
And
earth go singing on her way
About the throne of God!
"What of the night?" O Watchman set
To mark dawn's earliest ray:
"The
wind blows fair from the morning star,
Fair from the gates of day;
And
over sorrow and sighing shines
The Dream of Galilee--
The Kingdom of God
that shall fill the earth
As the waters fill the sea."
- Edna
Dean Proctor (1838-1923)
May this Holy Triduum embrace you in the extravagance of God’s grace and
love.
The Very Rev. Dr. William L. Stomski,
Chaplain and Sacred Studies
Educator, Saint Joseph’s Episcopal School, Boynton Beach
Dean of the Diocesan
School for Christian Studies
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