As we are listening/reading through the Gospels during this Lenten season, it as first seemed odd to me to revisit the birth narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus.  But as I reflect on how Jesus would have me grow closer to Him through this, it strikes me how this Scripture Reading:  Luke 1 (ESV) portrays the Jesus who grows up to go to a cross:  This is God in human flesh.

Transference is the psychological term for the phenomenon in which someone unconsciously redirects feelings from one person to another.  For example, when you have a morning argument with a family member about access to the bathroom, you may unconsciously redirect your anger to someone at school or work when you arrive there.  We're in a bad mood; and other get the brunt of it.  This is because it is difficult for us to simply shut-off our emotions and feelings when going from one situation to the next.

In trying to take in this climax of Jesus' earthly life as recorded by Matthew, I am struck by the fact that Jesus just took it.  He had clearly confounded the religious leaders in the temple just days before.  But now He is silent in the trial before Pilate. 

I've always seen that as fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7- "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened ot his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."

As I reflect on Jesus in these chapters of Matthew, I marvel at how He thinks and responds to the wave after wave of hostile religious leaders.  I am amazed at how quick thinking He is; how is able to take an extended analogy (parable) and make it hit his opponents right between the eyes...as a hard call to wake up and repent.

With a very active high school senior as the last child at home, my wife and I have been spending more time together...alone.  I must say that I am enjoying it.  This private time alone is taking our marriage to a whole new level.

Similarly, in today's reading Jesus is shown treasuring his private time alone with the Father.  In Matthew 14:13, Jesus "withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."  In Matthew 14:23, Jesus "went up on a mountainside by himself to pray."

A young boy was sad because he desperately wanted a new bicycle.  Though he had done yardwork for neighbors, he didn't think that he had enough money in his bank account.  Imagine how surprised and joyful he was, when his Dad checked his bank account and discovered that he had accumulated more than enough to buy the bicycle. 

In a way that is how I felt as I worked through this section of the Bible.  The bank account of powerful Jesus is more than enough to handle anything that I am facing.

The Lenten season is a wonderful time to intentionally "grow closer to and more like Jesus," especially as we listen/read through the Gospels (first four "books" of the New Testament).    I desperately long for this to result in a deeper relationship with Jesus for you and for me.  Here is today's Scripture Reading:  Matt. 1-3 (ESV)

I love snow days.  Do you?  It is a wonderful thing to have an unexpected break from the normal routine.  It is a chance to relax a little.  And often I get to do things that I've wanted to do for a while; or get caught up on something.

But I also notice that a snow day...being out of the normal routine...can be good or bad spiritually.  Sometimes my "God time" gets expanded by being less rushed to head off for the days tasks.  Other times my "God time" gets shorted because I am out of my routine.

I just finished my sermon for Sunday...and there is more good stuff than I can fit into the sermon.  So here is some of the overflow.