LENT 2020 WEEK 6

LENT 6 2020

Gathering up, Looking ahead

Six weeks ago we began our Lenten 2020 walk together. And of course we did meet together for the first three weeks, sharing a simple soup and bread lunch, followed by a shared time of reflection. Little did we know on that last Friday together, that the way ahead would become a more solitary experience.

However, we have still managed in a different way to follow the themes laid our in our Lenten study book, “The Wind, the Fountain and the Fire “by Mark Barret.

From the Dust, to the Mountain, from the Well, to the Light, and last week to the Tomb, we have explored the saving power of God for his people as contained the Old Testament and the New.

We sang as our Lenten hymn each week, Just a closer walk with Thee and I remind you of these words again.

1 I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I'll be satisfied as long, As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

2 Through this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

3 When my feeble life is o'er, Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o'er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Words which have become more comforting as the weeks have progressed.

Now, we stand on the threshold of Holy Week, a week so important in our Christian lives that this year will be so different. Different, because will not be able to come together as the body of Christ physically. And yet we will all be able still to join together united in the Spirit.

So, as we prepare for the walk we all must make, I leave you with this reflection from the

Iona Community.

HE WILL WALK

He will walk a little in front of us towards Jerusalem.

He will not be scared though we are apprehensive.

If we try to discourage him, he will recognize the devil in our voice

And he will tell us as much, in no uncertain terms.

Then he will go on again, in faith, towards Jerusalem

He will walk a little in front of us into controversy.

He will not be scared, though we are apprehensive

He will argue with the intelligent, stop in their tracks the self assured,

Upset bank balances by his outlandish behaviour in the sanctuary, and weep in public. Then he will go on again, in faith, towards Jerusalem

He will walk a little in front of us into Gethsemane.

He will not be scared, though we are apprehensive.

He will sweat blood and ask God if there is no other way.

And when God says no, he will take the traitor’s kiss, the soldier’s spit

The vile and venom of the religious leaders.

Then he will go on again, in faith, towards Jerusalem

He will walk a little in front of us to Calvary.

Will he be scared? We would be scared?

He will feel the pain of wood and nails, but more than this he will feel the weight

Of all the evil, all the malice, all the pettiness, all the sin, heaped apon his shoulders.

He will throw off that weight, though he could.

He will not give back evil for evil, return malice for malice,

On all who have despised or rejected him.

He will not give back the sin of the world, he will take it away, into death, into hell,

So that he can lead us into heaven.

Then he will go on again in faith, towards the resurrection.

He will walk a little behind us through the graveyard.

He will wait until we realize he has died, and admit our complicity on his life’s ending.

Then he will come up behind us, and say our name, so that we can say his,

FOEVER.

Go, forward then, in faith and in hope.

Elizabeth