The walking was cold, but no wind, so it was really nice. The lad waiting for his ride was bundled up, even had his hood pulled up and only his face showing. And his voice was sort of muffled when he greeted me.
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and so the beginng of the 40 days of Lent, not including the Sundays. Lent is a special time in the Church year with its emphasis on the Passion story. For me it was always a time to study something special about the events, a Book or a report, and a Sermon series ending always with Easter, and the Resurrection from the dead.
The season usually started with wintry weather, often rain or snow and cold, and then the Spring with the fresh growth, and some early flowers peeking out, and the Joy of Easter.
This year I plan to read the Gospel of John again, this time using Luther’s translation. I picture him, secluded in the Wartburg castle, struggling to set The words of the Bible into a language the common people could read and understand. And the work was richly blessed, and is still in use to this day.
That is really a picture of the Church at work. Often struggling, often beset by difficulties, often, as St. Paul wrote, ‘shipwrecked’, and enduring all the other trials and hardships mentioned in Hebrews chapter ll, for example. Yet out of it comes a Church stronger, more enduring, than ever. Jesus had said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be not dismayed, I have overcome the world”.
Always out of tribulation comes character, and strength of faith, and sure hope as well. And that is what we need to look for during Lent. See again with fresh eyes what Jesus did, and hear again the assuring word, “Father died for this one”.
In that light, may He bless your Lenten days for growth and calm assurance in this uneasy world.
GPD 2/18/10
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment