Lent Devotions: Hope in God’s desire
Editor’s note: This Lent season, Bread Blog is running a series of devotionals written by staff, alumni, and friends of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).
By Andy Deeb
A man with leprosy approaches Jesus. He's never seen Jesus before, never met him (at least as far as we know).
“You could heal me if you wanted to.”
Jesus doesn't miss a beat. He doesn't hesitate, he doesn't recoil at the sight of an “unclean” man approaching him. Instead, Jesus does the last thing anyone expects: he reaches out and touches the man.
“I want to. Be cleansed.”
How long had it been since someone had touched that man? How long had his illness kept him isolated?
Instantly the man’s leprosy left him. Instantly. Jesus then instructs him to go and begin the process of reintegration into the community.
Unfortunately, our own healing and the healing of the world around us is rarely so instant. Problems are not often resolved in a single moment. Sometimes I wonder why God can't simply come down and magically fix things. I find myself slipping into this line of thinking somewhat regularly these days. Creation cries for Creator, and no relief seems to come.
The key significance of today’s reading is not in the miraculous power of Jesus, but in the expression of God's desire. This desire is one that would see us healed and restored, a desire to see us connected, not alienated.
Remember this desire if you find yourself feeling bitter, hopeless, or burned out. When violence, hate, and bigotry seem to prevail over love, mercy, and justice, remember the cross. Darkness appeared to overcome the Light, but it was in this appearance of defeat that the Light prevailed. Though things may seem dark, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). God’s desire will prevail.
Loving God, preserve our hope.
Andy Deeb is studying for his master of divinity at the San Fransciso Theological Seminary.
Sometimes I wonder why God can't simply come down and magically fix things.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
The Nourishing Effect
Hunger and food insecurity add at least $160 billion a year to U.S. healthcare costs.
Fact Sheet: Hunger and Poverty in Puerto Rico
Even before Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico, hunger and food insecurity were much more common among Puerto Ricans than among their fellow U.S. citizens in the 50 states.
Before the hurricanes, 1.5 million Puerto Ricans were food insecure. The child food insecurity rate was...
Getting to Zero Hunger by 2030: Race, Poverty, and Hunger
By Marlysa D. Gamblin and Margot Nitschke
Ending hunger in the United States is within reach, explain Marlysa Gamblin and Margot Nitschke, in Getting to Zero Hunger by 2030...
For Faith
The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
A brief examination of the biblical approach to health as a hunger issue.
Includes an introduction to the issue, a Scriptural reflection, practical actions you can take, and a prayer.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
Bread Newsletter January 2016
In this issue: Another Great Year for Bread; Catholics Begin Observance of Holy Year of Mercy; Serving on ‘God’s Wave Length’ for 39 Years; and more.
For Advocacy
Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit
A set of how-to sheets for carrying out advocacy and fact sheets on the current issues Bread for the World is working on.
For new and current Bread grassroots hunger activists.
Ideal as a starter toolkit for new Bread activists or as a set of updates for current activists.
...
Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017
Unnecessarily long prison sentences, combined with the lack of rehabilitative programs for people in prison, exacerbate hunger, poverty, and existing inequalities.
Overly harsh mandatory minimum prison sentences have contributed to the rapid increase of our country’s prison population. The...
Health Care Is a Hunger Issue
Learn more about the principles that Bread for the World supports regarding health reform.