In our church tradition, Lent is a season which gives us a chance for personal reflection on our faith-journey. The church’s journey ‘explains the characteristic notes of Lent – self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter, to which alsmgiving has traditionally been added.’1
The Lenten journey is an annual commitment, and I have some favourite Lenten reflection material which I have used for a few years. As years pass, I find that God speaks in two ways; He reinforces what I know and experience in my faith journey and I find new insights about the Kingdom of God and my part in it.
This year I find myself feeling even more concerned about what is happening around the world. The stances and actions taken by some world leaders have led to increasing anxiety about the future.
Thankfully, as Christians, we have our faith in God and His promises to us about the future. It seems to me that while we hold our own concerns for what is happening internationally we have the opportunity of speaking with others who are concerned and bring our faith in God and His Kingdom into the dialogue.
In this week’s Lectionary readings from the Bible, Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi reminds us [the church] that ‘our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Phil 3:20). It feels extremely urgent that we seek a deepening sense of God’s love for all creation (which includes all people) and share our hope in God for good and our belief that He is in charge, that He has a plan and we are part of it in sharing the good news.
It feels important that we include prayer for the world leaders to be captivated by God’s love and to seek unity, justice and peace.
Like Jesus’ first disciples we’re on a journey as well. We know how Jesus’ ministry developed, which included making disciples. We have the Bible, which gives us a record of God’s work and how Jesus was the turning point, providing opportunity for everyone to know God through Him. Our developed theology, a liturgical year with seasons unfolding help us navigate our spiritual journey. Lent is a season in which we can refocus on the Kingdom of God.
Our Lenten journey is an opportunity to draw close to God and to seek His desires for our part in proclaiming God’s Kingdom.
Let us seek to experience the fullness of what God has for us, individually and as ‘church’ in this remaining season of Lent, one day at a time. What is God saying to you, to me, to the church?
Here’s a thought from Richard Rohr:
2nd Sunday of Lent – The Transcendence of God
Worship means lifting our hands to a God who seems totally beyond us. Modern humanity has lost the call to worship because it’s a blow to our pride and sophistication to worship God who is utter otherness. So instead of worshipping God, much worship becomes an attempt to control or influence God.
Is adoration pushing God away from us? No! It’s allowing God to make the voluntary move toward us – but from beyond us. Sometimes we want to pull God down here. But God is already totally here, by God’s own action. In worshipping what seems like a totally transcendent God, we discover the opposite is true: God is within us. Such faith comes hard to modern humankind: We don’t know how to adore.
From The Great Themes of Scripture; Richard Rohr, 2nd Sunday of Lent (Day 122); Radical Grace: Daily Meditations. St Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati Ohio, 1995
Revd Dave Mapes
1 Common Worship – Times and Seasons