Chastening

Every good father disciplines his children. So the Lord chastened David, and Solomon, and all the great leaders of Israel; he even chastened Jesus who, because he had no sin and was the Son of  the Living God, redeemed the world thereby. So must we also be chastened. He fasted so we must fast; he suffered so we must suffer. But it trains us. See how it trained the twelve. They were bickering over who was the greatest, but when they were chastened by their bitter experience of witnessing the crucifixion, they learned. And meanwhile they were comforted, for  the Lord chose Peter to be their pastor. Everyone needs pastors; even Jesus needed strengthening, and he was strengthened by an angel in Gethsemane. And so let us show our willingness to be chastened by partaking in the blood of Christ, and behold the very cup from which we drink: rich in symbolism: by receiving the cup we show our willingness. Sermon for midweek of Lent I.