by Rev. Herbert Nichols

In his letter, Paul issues a warning: "There is a problem." Some say they follow Paul, others follow Appollos and still others follow Cephas...You follow whoever you want to hear."

It might seem like a problem for First Century Corinthians but it is very much a problem in our world today as well. Paul continues: Was it I who was crucified for you? Are you Paulists or are you Christians? In whose name were you baptized? Jesus Christ is not divided. He is one."

The message of the gospel directs us to get our lives in order. The first reading gives us the principles for doing it. Today we live the great American dream of success, pleasure and wealth. These things are not evil. God wants us to be successful, to be happy and to enjoy prosperity.

He knows the necessity and the value of money; but they must not become priorities ahead of Him. That often places our culture and our faith in confrontation. Jesus said: You cannot serve two gods. you have to make a decision. Jesus invites us to experience life-giving faith by having God as our first priority. As we saw last week, that is not easy.

We can offer all kinds of excuses. None can be more silly than the one offered by Aaron when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the covenant/commandments. I collected all their jewelry. I threw it into the fire. This bull came out. Listen to what Aaron says: I threw it in (the work of a man -- his decision); it came out the work of f-a-t-e. What happened to the work of God? What happened to f-a-i-t-h?

In the gospel we see Jesus uncharacteristically upset. His anger aimed at the cynical and self-righteous leaders who demand clear, unambiguous, tailor made demands to meet their comfortable expectations. As it has often been said: Jesus gives comfort to those who are uncomfortable and makes uncomfortable those who comfort themselves. They had transformed the house of God, a house of prayer into a flea market; and Jesus drove them out with cords and whips.

What is common to all three readings is that faith was not held in priority. Unlike the unswerving trust of Noah and Abraham it seems as if everything is beginning to unravel. There are two ways of looking at God's commandments. Many see them as rules and restrictions on human freedoms from a miserly God who warns us not to break them at peril to our immortal soul.

I reminded you in week one that this is not what this Lent is about. It is about condemnation and judgment but regeneration and recreation. God invites us to see his commandments as a guarantee of protection and love from a Father who cares enough to do some discipling when beneficial to our health and growth.