As we approach Easter, Christians, are preparing to make a journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. This period of time is called Lent. It is a time we’ll hear hard truths about the nature of faith commitment and self-sacrifice and sometimes we find this too much to bear. But God wants us to persist, hang in there, and above all, in Lent, to “listen to him” – for Jesus will speak to us afresh of our lives, of our faith and of our service.
Lent should not be the same movie rerun every year, which we watch grudgingly with tired, cynical eyes. Each Lent is new and different. We are a year older; we’ve experienced more; our faith has grown, wavered or diminished; there have been births, illnesses and deaths, marriages, divorces, successes and failures. We are not the people we were this time last year or the people we will be twelve months from now – but it is to the people we are today that Jesus speaks. Many people today think faith is irrelevant, that it has no meaning or purpose, and would question why the need to come to church, let alone take a period of time to review their life and their relationships. Yet I want to say that here at St Mary’s we welcome all, the faithful, the faithless, and those who are somewhere in the middle. Why? because following Jesus is a hard road to take. If we look at the lives of the Disciples they misunderstood more than they understood. It takes time to explore what a Christian is and what a Christian is called to do and to be. One of the Disciples, Peter did not initially emerge with great credit. At the Last Supper he refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet, in the garden of Gethsemane he falls asleep, and in the high priest’s courtyard he denies knowing Jesus. Peter may have heard Jesus but he clearly hasn’t listened, for the lesson is a hard one and takes a long time to learn.
Belonging to a church gives a sense of community, builds friendships and allows time for us to listen to God. There are no expectations from other people – the only expectation is that there is an opportunity to experience God for yourself – and for your understanding to grow.
The words of Jesus will not be comfortable, but they will contain hope. Through the darkness of Lent there is a glimmer of light, the light of the resurrection. For no matter how dark and hopeless things may seem, God can bring light, life and hope to our lives. It is that assurance that allows us to dare to go to Jerusalem again, that allows us to relive the events of Holy Week and to “listen to him”.
Revd Sharon