Jesus, Our Companion
- davidwperk
- Feb 16, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, February 19, 2024
The week of the first Sunday in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 953)
AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44
Gen. 37:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes Tsao Kou Yin, Agatha Lin Zhao & Lucy Yi Zhenmei. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
John Dunne wrote, "It is only when one see Jesus as fully and unequivocally human that his lordship and divinity appears for the staggering mystery that it is."* During Lent, if we can envision Jesus’ human struggles more clearly, we may well experience the bond we share with him and find ourselves mystified in a new way by the concept of his deity.
Jesus chose to identify with John’s ministry through undergoing baptism. During the baptism, Jesus experienced the Holy Spirit’s anointing and the voice of God assuring him of his relationship with God. On the heels of that spiritual experience, Jesus felt driven to go into the desert where Satan awaited him.
How can I find my way into Jesus experience? For one thing, both Jesus and I must depend on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance. Jesus felt his need for God and perhaps his need for reassurance about his mission and identity, sharing with you and me the need for faith and the hunger for divine help. That drew him to John and drove him into the desert. He faced the tempter depending on the Holy Spirit, just as you and I must.
Our worship of Jesus in the liturgy can have the effect of elevating him in our minds and distancing him from our daily experience. John Haughey argues that we must remember Jesus’ dependence on the Holy Spirit or else suffer that sense of disconnection from his human experience that comes from thinking of Jesus primarily as divine and fading his humanity into the background. He says, “The pedestalization of Jesus is the main reason for the anemic condition of Christianity.” #
During this Lenten season, we seek to live into our our spiritual emptiness and our need for God’s reassuring presence. If I can meditate on Jesus' experience of being drawn to John’s baptism, perhaps I can cross over into his experience and have him cross over into mine. If I can imagine his experience of being assaulted by the powers of darkness and his feeling at risk and alone, perhaps my experience of temptation will cross over into his and his into mine.
Jesus’ wrestling with temptation makes him my brother and my companion; he shares my vulnerability and my longings. He stands ready to share his wisdom and strength with us in our moments of struggle with evil and with the corruption of holy desire. He will be our companion in our struggles. Our failures will bring his forgiveness and will enlighten us for the next experience.
* A Search for God in Time and Memory (Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame UP, 1969), p. 13.
# The Conspiracy of God (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1973), p. 2.
Collect of the Day, The First Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 218)
Collect for Monday of the First Week of Lent
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 32)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes Tsao Kou Yin (died 1 Mar 1856 CE), Agatha Lin Zhao (died 28 Jan 1853 CE), & Lucy Yi Zhenmei (19 Feb 1862 CE) catechists and martyrs.
Collect of the Feast of Agnes Tsao Kou Yin, Agatha Lin Zhao & Lucy Yi Zhenmei
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the witness of your servants Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy- for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 260)
A Prayer for Light
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 1:1-13
1:1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,”’
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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