Wednesday • 3/6/2024 •
Wednesday of 3 Lent, Year Two

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 119:97–120; Genesis 45:16–28; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13; Mark 6:13–29

For thoughts on 1 Corinthians 8:1–13 from 9/29/2021, see “Love vs. Knowledge”

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 11 (“The Third Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 60:1-3,11a,14c,18-19, BCP, p. 87); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 16 (“The Song of Zechariah,” Luke 1:68-79, BCP, p. 92)

Welcome to Daily Office Devotions, where every Monday through Friday we ask how God might direct our lives from that day’s Scripture readings, as given in the Book of Common Prayer. I’m Reggie Kidd, and I’m grateful to be with you this Wednesday of the third week of Lent, as we prepare for Holy Week. We are in Year 2 of the Daily Office Lectionary.

Two perceptive quotes on Genesis 45 by commentator Derek Kidner guide my meditations this morning. First, Jacob’s bringing his family from Israel to Egypt marks “a turning point…, long foretold (15:13–16): the beginning of a phase of isolation…, and of eventual bondage and deliverance which would produce a people that for ever after knew itself redeemed as well as called.” *

Redeemed as well as called. “[A] a people that for ever knew itself redeemed as well as called,” notes Kidner. That’s really quite a thought. Israel’s rescue from Egypt, of course, is a rescue from more than physical oppressors. It’s redemption from the Angel of Death that would have taken Israelite firstborn as well as Egyptian, save for the shed blood of the Passover lambs. It’s redemption through waters that would have drowned Israelites as well as Egyptians. It’s redemption by manna graciously falling from the skies despite the people’s grumbling the complaining. It’s redemption under the leadership of the Glory Cloud despite constant whining about how great it would be to turn around and go back!

Of course, it’s grace enough to be created in the first place and called in innocence into relationship with the Creator. But grace goes to an entirely different level when you have descended into disgrace and you have to be recreated because you deserve nothing but judgment.

That’s the story of the Bible. Theologians of the church even found themselves giving thanks to God for “the happy fall” (felix culpa) that made redemption necessary. We love God more, so the suggestion goes, more desperately, more passionately, more deeply because, in Christ, we know what it is to be “wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored” (BCP, p. 214).

No need for recrimination. Second, Kidner adds an intriguing remark about Genesis 45:24, which says, “Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel along the way.’” * Kidner comments: “Joseph’s parting shot was realistic, for the ancient crime was now bound to come to light before their father, and mutual accusations were likely to proliferate (cf. 42:22).”

Indeed, it’s not difficult to imagine Jacob’s reaction to finding out the son he thought he had lost is in Egypt. Elation at first, of course. But then the question: What in the world is he doing down there? How did he get there? The whole story is going to come out, and it’s not likely to be a pretty picture. Joseph anticipates the recriminations and says, “Let it go.”

In this season of Lent it’s good to be reminded how important it is not to carry grudges. Grievances can embitter us and cripple us relationally. Lent is a good time to seek reconciliation with God and with one another. Jesus walked the Via Dolorosa to take all our estrangement and woundedness into himself, to take it with him into the tomb, and to leave it there for good. It’s good for us consciously and freely to give it to him and bid it a fond and final farewell.

Be blessed this day,

Reggie Kidd+

* Derek Kidner, Genesis, p. 208.