Today’s household object is the television and the Bible passage is Mark 8:22-26.

Television allows us to see the world through new eyes, giving us access to the whole world. What we see can dismay and depress us or drive us to prayer; it can lift our spirits, make us laugh or cry, and can also teach us and inform us. As with so many things, it can be a good servant but a poor master; we need to learn to be wise in what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear, but we also need to appreciate the different viewpoints which this device can show us.

In our reading, Jesus healed a blind man in two stages: initially, the man saw people, but they looked like trees walking! This reminds us that we need to see the world through God’s eyes; we need spiritual vision and discernment as we view the world. Easter reminds us that what happened looked like failure and disaster to most people, but was actually all part of God’s plan for our salvation. We need to see as God sees.

We continue in the book of Ecclesiastes today (Eccl 3:9-15) and our household object is the calendar. For many people, a calendar still hangs in paper form in our house (I love mine, as it’s a photo calendar with pictures of my grandchildren on each month) For others, a phone calendar helps us keep track of appointments and commitments. Calendars remind us of important dates (including religious holidays and Bank holidays) and can be used to keep track of important dates (birthdays, anniversaries etc.) as well as more mundane appointments.

Gordon Giles says, ‘The writer of Ecclesiastes gives us a sobering perspective on the busyness of our lives and the tendency to be guided, even rules, by calendars or diaries. For no matter how busy we are, or how full our calendars, time marches on: everything we do, or plan to do, or have done, needs to be placed in perspective against the eternal, divine time of God.’ (‘At Home In Lent’, P 113) It’s one thing to plan ahead, but as James reminds us, we need to plan with God and not assume! (James 4:13-15)

Our household objects today are keepsakes and our Bible passage is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Are you a hoarder or a de-clutterer? Keepsakes are usually objects that might not have a practical purpose in the home such as the washing-machine or vacuum cleaner but which we keep because of the memories that are attached to them or the sentimental value they have, being a gift from a loved one.

According to our Bible passage, there is a time to gather such objects and a time to let them go too. The Bible calls us to remember many things – chiefly the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, which we do most significantly as we share in Holy Communion, that love feast inaugurated immediately before His death – but it also reminds us that there are things we need to let go of and forget (see Isaiah 43:18). Getting the balance right isn’t always easy, but this Lent period is a good time perhaps to de-clutter (that ‘spring clean’ that is necessary to keep on top of things!) and to ponder what is really important and must always be remembered.

Dave spoke this morning on a mother’s love. A mother’s love is very great, and even as Jesus hung on the cross, He thought about His mother (see John 19:26-27). Today (Mothering Sunday in the UK) is the day when we pay tribute to mothers and are reminded that a mother’s love can be a reflection of God’s love to many (see Is 66:13). God wants to show His great love to people and often uses mothers as examples of godly love.

A mother cherishes her child, as 1 Kings 3 makes plain. There, two women came to Solomon asking him to discern whose child had died. Solomon was able to do this because the real mother would rather have given her child to the other than have it killed. God’s love is a cherishing love.

A mother is also known for comforting her children, for providing stability and security. God’s love is unchanging and reliable. We can rest in His comforting arms and can turn to Him at all times.

A mother sacrifices for her children, giving her everything for them. God gave His only Son for us, such is His love. (John 3:16)

A mother encourages her children, providing a listening ear and encouragement. God is always there, listening to us and encouraging us.