Second Sunday Before Lent 23 02 25
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 2: 4 – 9, 15 – end
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Revelation 4
GOSPEL READING: Luke 8.22-25
We heard three beautiful readings today – they all speak of the Glory of God in different settings.
The first glimpse of God’s glory is from the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. The writer is telling us of the way the world was created and specifically how the man and woman were created. A wonderful natural world was created and man and woman were created in God’s image and they are given responsibility over the created order, to till it and to live in harmony with creation and with each other as man and woman. God is central to creation and God’s power is seen in the way everything is created so beautifully and God shares his handiwork with people.
The second reading is from the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation and this is a very special because it gives us a glimpse of heaven. No one has seen heaven, John the apostle has been given a glimpse of heaven for him to share with others what he saw. Central to heaven is God who is seated on the throne. In the boof of Revelation God is described as the one who is seated on the throne, It is a glorious picture as God is described as someone whose glorious presence is like precious stones, John is not able to se clearly as from the throne come lightning and peals of thunder. God is awesome and with tremendous power. Around him are the four living creatures who are seen as the four gospels and there are the twenty four elders with golden crowns. There is nonstop praise and adoration of God as the four living creatures sing: Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’ The twenty four elders remove the crowns and fall prostrate before God. Our worship is based on Revelation 4 and 5. We celebrate the presence of God in our midst.
The Gospel reading depicted another glorious situation where Jesus is journeying in a boat with his disciples. Luke tells us that even though Jesus was present, ‘a gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.’ The disciples were so afraid and turn to Jesus who was sleeping and they woke him up in panic. Jesus calmed the storm and turned to his disciples and asked them, why were you afraid where is your faith.
We see the glory of God in creation, we see the glory of God in heaven and in the heavenly worship, we also see the glory of God when we are facing difficult times. Even though Jesus is with us as God Immanuel, troubles are bound to come.
With faith in God, we trust that in the company of Jesus we can be calm in the storm because Jesus will cal the storm for us.