Second Sunday in Lent • Year C

Historical Collect

Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of your humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of your majesty to be our defense against all our enemies. Grant this, we pray, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gregorian Sacramentary, 6th Century)

Thematic Collect

Gather us, gracious Lord, into the saving grace of your covenantal promises. Show us the light of your countenance and remind us often of our true citizenship; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

The culturally correct do not care for rebuke. Just ask Jeremiah. It matters not whether this is a secular or religious bunch, if the Lord sends, the prophet must speak. Almost certainly, it will not go well for that prophet; his life is the Lord’s, and he must trust in God alone. The culture’s protection is fickle but God is faithful. Better to be culture’s enemy than an enemy of the cross. This is the way of Christ.

First Reading • Jeremiah 26:8-15

“Mend your ways.” The oft-heard word of the prophets is the theme of Lent. Amend your ways; repent. But this is not only a matter of doing better or being a better person. Part and parcel of amending one’s ways is turning to the Lord. Listening, heeding, obeying—these are the beginning and the continuance of spiritual repair. 

Psalm • Psalm 4:1-8

Trash-talking is fashionable in sports but it is also popular in social and political circles. It is easy to fall into harmful gossiping and rumoring. We probably have enough to do with fixing ourselves, without needing to meddle with the worth of others too. We can also fall for the talk of others about us. We should put our trust in the Lord instead of what others think and say about us. We would sleep better, for we would find our joy coming from God, instead of expecting it from the fickle attitudes and volatile mouths of people. 

"On the Run," a reflection of John Calvin's Commentary on Psalms includes another Scripture graphic for your use. 

Second Reading • Philippians 3:17-4:1

In this life, we ought to follow the examples of those who have patterned their lives after Christ. We know we will not do so in a perfect way, but with the Spirit’s help, we can try. What is left lacking in us, we should entrust to the Lord’s care, knowing that in the end, he will transform us to become just like himself. 

Gospel • Luke 13:31-35

The mission was everything, so Jesus pressed on for Jerusalem and the end. How easy it would have been for him to turn away to the countryside or go back to Nazareth. But on he went, to Jerusalem, the prophet slayer. Of course, Jerusalem was not only a city in a time-gone-by. We are Jerusalem. We are the Christ slayer. It was for all of us that he journeyed on to the “third day.”