LENT 2020: Second Sunday

• Sunday, March 8, 2020: Second Sunday in Lent
  Genesis 12.1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4.1-5, 13-17; John 3.1-17

In the beginning, God created... But it didn't take long for creation to fail. Humans fail. It's just what we do. And being told we're not allowed to do something makes us even more likely to fail.

And so God tried again, East of Eden. But, again, it didn't take long for creation to fail. Just six chapters in, God has lost control - of self and of creation. And so God sends a flood to reverse creation, to end all life. Except for Noah and two of each animal.

And so God starts again, with a new-ish creation. But, once again, it didn't take long for this remnant of creation to fail. Of course, that could have been easily predicted. Humans fail. It's just what we do. And the trauma of mass genocide makes us even more likely to fail.

And so, in today's reading, in Genesis 12, God tries yet again. Only this time. God has learned a lesson. God chooses Abram - and for no good reason. God chooses to bless Abram - and for no good reason. This time, it's not up to humans to get things right. This time, it's up to God to fulfill the promises God has made. Humans fail. It's just what we do. But it no longer matters. For God has removed the conditions. God will bless Abram. Period. No matter what. Just because.

God has changed. Universal blessing has not worked for the individual. The bet this time is that individual blessing will work for the universal. The blessing of Abram is not just about Abram. Abram will be a blessing to others. Notice the passivity here. This is not up to Abram. This is up to God. But Abram is necessary. For it is in him that all the world will be blessed.

I like to think that God was having this same conversation with others, not just Abram. I like to think that God was calling others, not just Abram. I like to think that God was blessing others, not just Abram. I like to think that there are stories of blessing we don't have written in scripture.

I like to think that there are stories of blessing yet to be written. I like to think that God is having this same conversation with us, today. I like to think that God is calling us, today. I like to think that God is blessing us, today.

It's up to God. But we are necessary. For it is in us that all the world will be blessed.