2-28-2017

Good Morning All,

         Matthew5:42; “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

      When our youth group went to New Orleans for the youth gathering, we listened to a lady who spoke about the Mardi Gras.  She told us of the tradition of those who ride on the large floats will give out beads, doubloons and whatever trinkets they have.  She said that the tradition is that the people on the ground have to ask those on the floats for the trinkets.  They have to shout something like, “Master, can you spare some?”  The people on the float are not supposed to give out the trinkets unless someone asks.  She was asked about this as most of the kids were only familiar with the throwing of the beads.  She mentioned a couple of thoughts about the origin of the parade and the saying.

       She said there are a couple of thoughts.  One was that the parades may have begun with the wealthier people dispensing with the food they were going to give up for Lent.  This would have included dairy products, eggs, sugar and meat.  This occurred because the food would not last until the end of Lent so the food was given away.  As part of the giving process, those giving the food away covered their face to be anonymous.  In order to try and not waste the food, they would only give it those who asked and once they had enough they were to quit asking.  The main idea was to not waste the food; take only what you could eat that day prior to the start of Lent.

      What does this have to do with our verse?  Not much, except that as we approach the Lenten season we remember that all we receive, much like these poor people in the parade is a gift, a gift from God.  All we receive is from the gracious love of God and we are but beggars before Him.  We receive with cupped hands the pouring out of his love and mercy.  He loves us and he cares for us.

     We see this most clearly when we look at Jesus.  As we look at and consider the work of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection; we see the greatness of God’s love.  We see the incredible will of God to show his love for his creatures (us) by willingly becoming one of them in order to die for them.  Not because of their great worth but because of his great love.  This is the love that moves him to have mercy upon you and to give you hope.  This is the love that moves him to do the ultimate good for you and that is to cleanse you of your sins and declare you holy.  He gives you the righteousness you need to keep you in his kingdom.  We only need to open our hands and receive his love.

Father of all mercy, in you we find all of our needs.  We are but mere beggars before you.  We can only ask and wait for your gracious hand to open and sustain us in all that we need.  Remind us that by looking only to you we always have the comforting mercy that you bestow to us.  Keep us mindful this Lenten season of your love, your mercy and the redemption that we receive through Jesus.  In His precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret