WATCHWORD:
2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:2-5
Meditation:
Intervention?
It was early evening, still daylight. I was driving back from visiting a friend in the hospital. I’d stopped at my favorite Italian eatery and had a nice meal, wine included, of course. I don’t know where my mind was, as I drove home, but I suddenly was jolted alert when my car bounced over the ditch, and I found myself in a field, on the opposite side of the highway. I had dozed behind the wheel, and, now wide awake, I was frightened by what might have been.
I sat in my car for a long time, my mind a jumble of images, as I watched an occasional car or truck go zipping along the highway, across the path my car must have taken to get to where I was. As I prayed, “Thank you, Lord,” tears of relief and amazement came. I can only believe this had been a blessed intervention. I had lived through a cautionary tale, forever imprinted on my mind, by my Savior that lives within. I’ll never forget it.
The myth proclaims that cats have nine lives. Pooh! But, how many near misses do we get in our lives? Something happens, and we emerge safe, chalking it up to luck. Or, maybe you decide to return home early from a family gathering, for no apparent reason, only to discover your home filled with gas, and you saved the day Thank God! A coincidence? Luck? The work of the Holy Spirit? I think “Thank God” sums it up.
Or, the opposite happens. You are in a terrible car crash, or in your home when it blows up. Or a nut with a gun kills someone close to you. Those are called tragedies. When tragedy strikes, have you ever had a passing thought that the victim might have been punished for sinful behavior? Victims of war, are they being punished? Cancer or other health crisis, suffering in the worst way. Are they being punished? I can’t believe that.
Cautionary tales, living parables, lessons to be learned. Sometimes the lesson is “change your ways”, or “always remember this when driving”, or the lesson is compassion, or living empathy, all part of God loving us and helping us understand what it means to love others.
I think that God was watching over me that evening on the highway. I believe that God is watching over all of us as we live our lives. I believe that God is watching over the people of Ukraine, victims of war crimes. I am convinced that God takes an active/subtle role in the way we live our lives, sometimes directly with us, sometimes through others. They are lessons, nevertheless, from our Lord.
From a distance, You look like my friend, Even though we are at war.
From a distance, I just can’t comprehend, What all this fighting’s for.
God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us. From a distance.
Today’s Lenten Passage to Ponder:
John 3:16: For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Lenten Prayer:
Lord, you are true to your word. You have always been faithful and you will continue to be faithful. Thank you for fulfilling every promise you made. You are trustworthy and good and we praise your Holy Name. Amen.
