This coming Sunday's Hebrew Scripture reading recounts Abraham's covenant with God. When we speak of the Jews as God's chosen people, this is the point where they are selected. Abram, as he is still known at this point in the story, is childless, yet God promises descendants as numerous as the stars filling the sky.
What you may be wondering as you hear this text Sunday is this: What does Abraham's having been so chosen have to do with us? It is true that the world's Jews and Muslims both view Abraham as their ancestor. But what is he to you and me? As Christians, we don't look so strongly to Abraham as the source of our heritage. We see ourselves as part of the new covenant of Jesus, grafted into that promise made to Abraham, to be sure, but still, not as directly connected as the Jews or Muslims see themselves.
So where do we take meaning from this passage? To understand that, you need to fast-forward a few millennia to our Gospel reading for Sunday. In it, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will show that God is still willing to die for the love that binds Abram and all persons of faith to their creator. While teaching, Jesus confirms that "Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets" will make it into the kingdom of God, but adds that we might still be surprised at the guest list.
Jesus warns that the door is narrow and the time period in which it will be open will end. Jesus tells those whom he sees often as he preaches and teaches that having known him in passing will not ensure a ticket to heaven. As preacher and scholar Fred Craddock has put it, when Jesus is asked if only a few will be saved he says, "The invitation is open but the way into the kingdom is narrow and demands more than a casual interest."
Both of these stories - God's covenant with Abraham and Jesus' teaching about the narrow door - call us to question where we are with God. Abram had already left behind the only life he knew in Ur to follow God into an unknown place. Abram had more than a casual interest in God. Jesus is also asking us to assess where we are. The door is narrow and you will not enter it by accident. You are invited he reminds us, but you are not coerced.
But here's the thing: Even with having been chosen, you still have a choice. The door is open now. But knowing about Jesus does not count. Going through the narrow door is not about head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Entrance into the Kingdom of God is all about relationship, for it does not matter how narrow the door is if you know the one who owns the mansion. Just as God was willing to put the divine life on the line to enable the covenant with Abram, Jesus put his life on the line for us. The covenant you and I are offered is eternal.
This Season of Lent is a time to prepare for the joy of Easter by taking stock of where you are in your walk of faith. It's OK if some of Lent is about head knowledge, knowing more about Jesus. But Lent is a time for heart knowledge too - knowing Jesus.
No matter where you are, God has chosen you and wants to lead you closer to home. Open yourself up to following where God is leading you this holy season.
Fr. Chip
Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer
Each week, in both of our churches, we pray for one ministry we share and one or two households in each church. About once every six weeks, we will instead using the Shared Ministry Collect we prayed throughout the opening months of our Shared Ministry.
In our prayers the next two weeks, we give God thanks for...
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Feb. 21
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Trinity Church Buildings and Grounds Ministry; Craig Davis & Kris Ebbeson; Bob Busch, Mark & Michelle Chooljian
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Feb. 28
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Hampton Nursing Home Service; Gary Dozier; Carol Dostie; Jane Eiras
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Our Lenten program for 2016 continues...
What Wondrous Love
Our Lenten series for 2016 is off to a fine start. This year's program, "What Wondrous Love" focuses on the story of Jesus' walk from the threshold of 
Jerusalem to the Cross at Calvary. Meditations by renowned theologians from Emory University's Candler School of Theology (on video) show us that within each of the stories of the road to Calvary is woven a unique message about what we receive through the crucified Christ. Parishioners can take the message with them to enrich their own stories of faith in Christ as they journey through Lent.
Our remaining schedule is as follows:
Week Two Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
Christ Church: Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
Week Three The Last Supper
Christ Church: Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 2 at 6 p.m.
Week Four The Betrayal Arrest Christ Church: Sunday, Mar. 6 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 6 p.m.
Week Five The Crucifixion and Burial
Christ Church: Sunday, Mar. 13 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 16 at 6 p.m.
Each session begins with a soup and bread meal, followed by discussion and worship. The Christ Church sessions will end by 1:30 p.m.; at Trinity, we will conclude by 8:00 p.m.
The sign-up sheet for offerings of soup and bread will be in the Narthex at Trinity and in the Marshall Room at Christ Church. There is no set charge, but a voluntary donation to cover materials costs is welcomed.
Christ Church Calendar Raffle Items are due
Please be sure to get your donations for our Calendar Raffle to me by this Saturday, Feb. 20. Remember: great donation items include gift cards for local stores, restaurants, and services. If you have any questions about items, feel free to email me at spring987@comast.net. Thank you!
Tena Wolf
