Loving God, your wisdom is beyond what we can imagine, and yet we so often substitute our own judgment for yours. Teach us those things that will renew our spirit, our relationships, and our faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s theme is “stones of the covenant,” and the readings that we have heard this evening introduce some of the ways in which the images of stones are used in the Scriptures. These will form a basis for our reflection in the weeks to come, as we gather for mid-week worship during Lent. “Stones of the covenant,” though, surely has to refer to the tablets of stone onto which the 10 Commandments were carved.

I actually had an “aha!” experience as I looked at the passage from Deuteronomy that we heard earlier. I had always wondered why the tablets of stone only had the 10 Commandments pictured on them. After all, there are actually 613 laws contained in the Torah, all of which were said to have been given to the people at Mt. Sinai. However, more often than not, when I have looked at the 10 Commandments, I have looked at the passage in Exodus (20:1-17) that records them. In Exodus, the connection with the two tablets of stone is not made, and so I had missed that detail.

It does make sense, however. It is unlikely that anybody would ever fit 613 laws on two tablets of stone. It also makes sense that the commandments that were carved in stone are the same ones that are repeated by Jesus. These commandments are given for our own well-being, for the well-being of human community, and for the well-being of our relationship with God. These are also commandments that are just as relevant today as they were when they were given.

If you don’t believe that they are relevant, consider the end result when these commandments are ignored. Take coveting, for example – envy, jealousy, and wanting what other people have. Doesn’t this lead to living beyond our means, or taking from other people, or the inability to be content, or the inability to be thankful, and broken relationships with other people?

And how about adultery? How many people are hurt every time that somebody steps outside of a marriage relationship and is unfaithful? How many problems are caused when people have multiple partners and can’t seem to make a commitment to one person? How many people live in misery, longing for what they cannot have, while they continue in an affair with somebody who is already married? When people ignore the commandments, they hurt themselves and others.

Consider, though, that even more people seem to disregard the commandments that have to do with our relationship with God. How many have made the name of God and the name of Jesus Christ into curse words rather than names to be spoken with reverence and in prayer? How many ignore the need for a sabbath and end up suffering in body, mind and spirit? How many put anything and everything ahead of the Lord of all Creation and end up not knowing the only one who is the giver of life?

All of these things that we have been talking about are sin. Sin separates us from God. Sin hurts both ourselves and others. Sin ruins our relationships. Yet, I have to wonder how many people these days really view sin as a problem.

One of the things that Ash Wednesday does is that it reminds us of what a right relationship with God looks like. Every single one of us has sinned and will die. The ashes remind us of “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Thus, it is always proper for us to approach God in humility and in repentance. Yet, as we hear God’s word of forgiveness to us tonight, we are also reminded that God lifts up those who humble themselves. God does not leave us in sin and in death. God has acted through Jesus Christ to bring us forgiveness and salvation.

You might recall that Paul wrote about “the ministry of death, chiselled in letters on stone tablets” (2 Cor. 3:7) and contrasted it with “the ministry of the Spirit,” which brings life. During this season of Lent we remind ourselves of what sin does to us, while at the same time being renewed by the Holy Spirit in our faith in Jesus Christ.

While some probably feel as if Lent is unnecessary, there is great wisdom in having a season that calls for renewed discipline in our lives, a focus on our relationship with God, and a renewed appreciation for what Jesus was willing to give up in order to break the power of sin and offer eternal life.

Tonight I’d like to leave you with an image that comes from the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel writes about how God will remove the heart of stone from his people and will give them a heart of flesh (Ezek. 11:19). That heart of stone seems a perfect image for sin – that stone that God wants to replace with a heart of flesh and a new spirit. May our spirits also be renewed as we embark upon this journey of Lent. Amen.

Ash Wednesday      Deuteronomy 5:1-22
February 25, 2009      2 Corinthians 3:1-8
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved