Lent Daybook 10: Saturday, March 7
Look: Elijah and Ladonte (Jubilee), Flour exhibit - Sedrick Huckaby
Listen*: Take My Hand, Lead Me On, Sister Gertrude Morgan - Spotify | YouTube
Read a brief bio of Sister Gertrude Morgan at the National Gallery website here.
Read**: Psalm 55; Genesis 41:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23-3:6
Excerpts:
"Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. ...
For it is not an enemy who taunts me — then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me — then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
But I call to God, and the Lord will save me."
*
"Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
*
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God."
*
"One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
- Psalm 55:1-2, 12-16 * Genesis 41:9-13 * 1 Corinthians 4:1-5* Mark 2:23-28 (ESV)
Pray &Do:
Each week during Lent, we will devote Saturdays to connecting with An American Lent from The Repentance Project. It's God's kindness that leads us to repentance, and in His kindness and provision for reconciliation, He invites us to make confession and ask for forgiveness on behalf of not only ourselves but our forefathers and mothers. We carry a heavy load of guilt and grief in our nation as a result of centuries of grievous sin and unrelenting injustice against African Americans.
Go here to download a PDF or subscribe to receive daily reflections from An American Lent.
Begin with prayer:
Lord Jesus, I draw near to you today. Through the noise of the crowd, through the tyranny of my task lists, I press in to touch the hem of your garment. By the power of your Holy Spirit, transform me. Renew my mind with your truth. Open my eyes to see where I am still bound in my thinking and actions, and come set me free. I want to walk in alignment with you. Make me attentive to the leading of your Spirit in my every step today. Amen.
— An American Lent, Week 2
Spend time today reading through the reflections for Week 2. Founded in Slavery. I especially noticed Tuesday’s reflection, “The International story of Slavery” by Rev. Bill Haley and Friday’s reflection, “Women and Slavery” by Rev. Erin Clifford.
From Bill Haley’s reflection:
“Watch the 2-minute video: The Atlantic Slave Trade in Two Minutes.
Watch this five-minute TED Talk on the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Click through the links in Rev. Erin Clifford’s reflection and respond:
“As male and female, we are all given our gender as a gift and as a reflection of the Divine. As we acknowledge the isolation and prejudice that so many black women still experience today, let us take a moment to confess our own conscious or unconscious assumptions about gender. Where have we sought to dehumanize or objectify another because of their gender or race? Where have we contributed to the theft of another’s dignity or respect by our thoughts, words, or actions? Let us invite God to give us his eyes for one another that we might see one another as the glorious creations he has made.”
Close with prayer:
Additional recommendations for your weekend:
Read “What’ll Become of Me? Finding the Real Patsey of 12 Years A Slave” via Vanity Fair
Read “Harriet Tubman Followed the Voice of God” and “Harriet Tubman: Saving Hundreds of Lives Would Not Have Been Possible Without God”.
You might also enjoy: Mockingbird History Lessons for Adults on Patreon
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2019. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).