Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
February 21, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022124.cfm

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Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Luke 11: 30-31

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Just like the Ninevites in Jonah’s time, we are called to turn our hearts fully to God. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, many prophets were sent with this message. But we have been given One greater than any of these prophets. Jesus is the ultimate Sign of God’s desire for our faith, love, and hope. We are called to live according to his Word.

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy,

We might ask ourselves how free we are of the need to demand signs from God. When we live in deep relationship with another person, we trust their good will and loving intention toward us. We don’t have to ask them every five minutes if they still love us. We don’t have to pick apart their actions to test their intentions. We trust that they want only the best for us. How much more we can trust God who sent God’s own Beloved Son to redeem us!

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Music: Two hymns today.

Son of God – by Starfield

God’s Own Son, Most Holy – by Ryan Flanagan

Verse 1: (From Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal‎ #17)
God’s own son, most holy
Came a servant lowly
Came to live among us
Came to suffer for us
Bore the cross to save us
Hope and freedom gave us

Verse 2: (From The 1982 Hymnal: Episcopal, #53)
Still he comes within us
Still his voice would win us
From the sins that hurt us
Would the truth convert us
Not in torment hold us
But in love enfold us

Chorus: (Derived from 4th verse Common Service Book Lutheran #10 and Lutheran Service Book )
Come, O come, Lord Jesus
From our sins release us
Let us here confess you God’s own Son

Verse 3
Thus, if we have known him
Not ashamed to own him
Nor have loved him coldly
But will trust him boldly
He will then receive us
Heal us and forgive us

Chorus
Come, O come, Lord Jesus
From our sins release us
Let us here confess you God’s own Son, most holy
Keep our hearts believing
That we, grace receiving
Ever may confess you God’s own Son, most holy

Verse 4 (From: The Chorale Book for England‎ #26, changed to new English first person plural)
But through many a trial
Deepest self denial
Long and brave endurance
Must we win assurance
That his own he makes us
And no more forsakes us