Website Pastor’s Message, Lent 2023

 

What is Lent calling us to?

 

In Chapter 6 of 1st Corinthians, Paul lists many, many ways that the followers of Jesus are suffering: through all kinds of hardships and calamities, including even being imprisoned and put to death. Yet they have come through the ordeal showing kindness, love, patience, and the power of God. He says they are treated “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything” (1 Cor. 6:10). These “ambassadors for Christ” are inspired – and it is inspiring for us to hear on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent.

 

This passage makes me think of our own time. Many people in our world have indeed been showing great endurance, having endured afflictions, hardship, and calamities. We would certainly expect some discouragement in these challenging times. And yet Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is full of hope. We are treated as dying, but see! – we are alive, Paul says. We might be sorrowful, yet we are always rejoicing; we might have nothing – and yet we possess everything.

 

Ash Wednesday is all about entering the season of Lent with a penitent heart. Yet we are filled with hope, because WE KNOW that at the end of the line there is an Easter. We know that hope arises from despair, that life emerges from the ashes, and that out of death – all death – comes resurrection. I have heard people complain a little that sometimes it seems that we really dwell a bit too much on sin and death, especially in Lent, and it’s kind of depressing. But remember – we are headed for hope. We are headed for life. I always say you can’t have Good Friday without Easter, and you can’t have Easter without Good Friday. Unless we embrace both, we can’t begin to absorb how profound and life-giving our journey really is.

 

So a blessed Lent to you! May you experience the presence of Jesus on your walk of faith this season. May we all discover new ways of hoping, new ways of being alive. As Paul writes, we are treated as having nothing – and yet we possess everything. As the song says – Lord Jesus, you shall be our song as we journey. Amen!

 

Pastor Janet

Pastor’s Message, Lent 2023

 

What is Lent calling us to?

 

In Chapter 6 of 1st Corinthians, Paul lists many, many ways that the followers of Jesus are suffering: through all kinds of hardships and calamities, including even being imprisoned and put to death. Yet they have come through the ordeal showing kindness, love, patience, and the power of God. He says they are treated “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything” (1 Cor. 6:10). These “ambassadors for Christ” are inspired – and it is inspiring for us to hear on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent.

 

This passage makes me think of our own time. Many people in our world have indeed been showing great endurance, having endured afflictions, hardship, and calamities. We would certainly expect some discouragement in these challenging times. And yet Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is full of hope. We are treated as dying, but see! – we are alive, Paul says. We might be sorrowful, yet we are always rejoicing; we might have nothing – and yet we possess everything.

 

Ash Wednesday is all about entering the season of Lent with a penitent heart. Yet we are filled with hope, because WE KNOW that at the end of the line there is an Easter. We know that hope arises from despair, that life emerges from the ashes, and that out of death – all death – comes resurrection. I have heard people complain a little that sometimes it seems that we really dwell a bit too much on sin and death, especially in Lent, and it’s kind of depressing. But remember – we are headed for hope. We are headed for life. I always say you can’t have Good Friday without Easter, and you can’t have Easter without Good Friday. Unless we embrace both, we can’t begin to absorb how profound and life-giving our journey really is.

 

So a blessed Lent to you! May you experience the presence of Jesus on your walk of faith this season. May we all discover new ways of hoping, new ways of being alive. As Paul writes, we are treated as having nothing – and yet we possess everything. As the song says – Lord Jesus, you shall be our song as we journey. Amen!

 

Pastor Janet