February 21, 2021
“Light in Darkness”
Genesis 9:8-17
I Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
Psalm 25
Let me share a short story, points to some discomfort and then lets us wait until the light shines. Let me tell you about light shining in the midst of mess and emptiness.
Do you recall a few years ago, there were some killings at a Jewish Synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark? A month later there were some killings in Paris at a Jewish place. Well, in Oslo, Norway some young Muslims with the blessing of the Rabbi of the Oslo Jewish Synagogue said that they would form a protective ring around the synagogue. Thirty Muslims initially agreed to do so, and at last count over 800 Muslims of Oslo had agreed to surround the Mosque with a “Peace Ring” in support of and in solidarity with the Jewish community. A bit of light shining in the darkness.
Listen to a brief synopsis of today’s three passages. They are all about embracing just what is happening and holding on to hope. Genesis is about God making a covenant with Noah and promising NOT to destroy the earth again. 1 Peter tells how Jesus was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. And Mark has Jesus baptized in the Jordan and going to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.
Destruction of the earth, death on the cross, tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days. These are not “feel-good” passages. These are passages of commitment to something larger. These passages are about a journey in Lent and Lent is not about joy and simple things, it is about making room in your hearts for God and giving extra attention to your own life. Says Anne Lamott: Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness, the discomfort and letting it be there until the light returns. Or as I observed so wisely while sitting in the restaurant during the snowstorm the other day…just embrace it.
Recently, I was talking with a couple of our Roman Catholic members and we were trying to decide what to give up for Lent. The idea is to give up something for Lent so that we can better focus on our relationship with God. I will be the first to suggest that giving up Chocolate does not necessarily guarantee a better relationship with God. Perhaps less TV or Facebook. But you decide.. We like our events to start and end at set times. Lent does that. We started on Ash Wednesday and this is the first of our Lenten Sunday’s. We end on Easter. Start. Finish.
Lent is about the journey and in more proper Christian fashion, we are to emulate the wilderness stay of Jesus for 40 days. He was tempted. He resisted. He was ministered to by Angels. People consider what to give up for Lent, not because it will make them more fit, healthier but to give up something on which you spend a lot of time means you then give more time to God and your relationship to God. Instead of obsessing over food or a TV show…you free yourself for
contemplative time with God. It may not be the wilderness journey of Jesus, but more time on God is always time well spent. That is why you give up something for Lent. If it makes you healthier in the bargain, then that is a bonus.
The world does not encourage us to tend to our inner spiritual life, in fact, it does everything it can to distract us from such efforts. Writes the Rev. Kathryn Huey.
More than any other six week period of the year, between now and April 4, which is Easter Sunday, we are going to see a vast change in the weather and in the amount of light. Many of our friends have wisely chosen to seek some warmer climates during this time of year but we get to experience a time of renewal ourselves. We are constantly concerned about our diets and our exercise, and here we have Lent which tries and tests our inner spiritual life. Its just six weeks but it just might balance you.
The story is told of a man who was trekking across the country many, many years ago. He had a large contingent of men that he had hired to carry the load. He paid them fairly but he worked them hard, day after day. But one morning when he got up and was readying himself to get on with the journey, he found that the men he had hired were taking it easy in the morning light. He commanded them to get ready, load up, and going. But the leader of the workers said to the boss, “Sir we are resting today, so that our Spirits might catch up with us.”
We all have that same opportunity to let our spirits catch up with us in the coming weeks. Jesus was alone in the wilderness for 40 days and He found that the Angels came and ministered to him. Perhaps you might find the same as you find a bit of light shining in the darkness. Amen