CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

February 15, 2026

 

 “Flowing Into Lent”

(Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9)

     This is the time of year Maple trees are being tapped.  Why?  To increase the flow of the sap, which will eventually be boiled down to produce something treasured. This “increasing flow” imagery works well for our season of Lent; Lent is a season when we are intentional in increasing the flow of God’s presence in our lives by participating in spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, scripture reading, fellowship and fasting.  When we encounter God, special things happen!  We certainly are reminded of this in our scripture readings today.

     The Exodus passage reminds us of Moses’ mountaintop experience with God.  While Aaron and Hur handled any problems in his absence, Moses went to the mountain to receive instruction and commandments from God to pass along to the people.  As the people watched, the mountain was transformed as smoke and a “consuming fire” enveloped the mountain (thought to be Mt. Sinai.)  Indeed, something special was happening on that mountain.

     Those who witnessed the transfiguration described in our Matthew passage confirmed that Jesus had been transfigured into something otherworldly at the time, and that God’s voice had confirmed Jesus as God’s son.  Peter had been there along with John and James when this originally took place; it was a God encounter which proved transformative.

     What does this have to do with Lent?  Again, Lent is a season when we are to be intentional in having daily encounters with God through prayer, scripture and fasting.  Like the stent and faucet, these spiritual disciplines open our hearts and minds to, in a sense, increase the flow of God’s presence in our lives.  Like the maple trees and brooks this time of year, our hearts and minds are wakened again after a long, cold winter as the spirit of God flows in and around us.

     One of the responsibilities of the church is to provide people with resources which allow us to have daily encounters with God.  As we enter into the season of Lent, I encourage all of us to daily be involved in reading scripture and prayer, and to practice fasting.  Fasting doesn’t just involve food, fasting can also involve a fast from media, or any other daily routine.  The purpose of fasting is not to punish, but rather fasting serves to help us focus and concentrate on increasing the flow of God’s presence.   As always, I encourage anyone who doesn’t have a Bible to let us know; we also have wonderful daily devotional booklets we would be happy to provide to anyone.