We are now in the second half of Lent and little has changed in the world around us: food prices rising, White House bluster, Congressional intransigence, continuing war in Ukraine and new war in the Middle East. What’s even more frightening, is that these things that overwhelm us will probably continue well past Lent.
How can we use this Season to not just reflect on the world but the call of Jesus in our lives? They are really connected, intrinsically connected. The Gospels make it clear that as Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem he was going to challenge the powers and authorities that oppressed the people, that he wasn’t just some cute baby we want to remember from Christmas.
It’s fitting that Lent, the first great feast of the early Christians, occurs so closely after Christmas. Getting past the warm glow of a cute baby is essential to our faith. The world, the commercial world, doesn’t want to have Lent, only Easter, but not the real Easter Christians celebrate, only the cute bunnies and faux flowers we see in the shops and markets. But we must remind the world of the importance of Lent and the work that is yet to be done to establish the realm of God on the earth.
Prayer for the Day
Asking for mercy we come to you, Holy Friend,
For we know that the heart of friendship is love;
Harboring fears that we hide deep inside us,
We need your help in erasing them from our hearts.
May we learn to walk as your disciples in the world,
Embracing all as we have been embraced.
In the name of the One who calls us to discipleship,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice.
Eric Liddell, the man who would not run on Sunday, missionary to China, died in a
Japanese war camp, from Disciplines of Christian Life (1902-1945)
The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us?”
Dorothy Day, American social reformer, radical Christian (1897=1980)
If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
Jesus in Luke 9:23