This time last year we had no clue what the rest of the year would hold – It’s been a crazy year when we stop to think about it. Maybe this is what lent this year could be – a time to stop and think about where we are!
It’s a time of the year when we are able to count our blessings, a time to think about what we’re looking forward to – in the immediate as well as the long term – the small things as well as the big things but right now – the immediate in the midst of this lock down, in the midst of the circumstances we find ourselves in what are you looking forward to – maybe it’s a walk, maybe its planting some seed, maybe it’s a phonecall with a friend, maybe it’s starting a new course, maybe it’s watching & feeding the birds, maybe it’s the shopping trip (simply to get out of the house), maybe it’s the craft project … what ever it may be – the simple pleasures.
Maybe its something bigger – As we start out on this new week – lets take time to look forward – to note down the things we’re looking forward.
Paul – writing a letter to the Church in Philipi said this in Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
This blogpost is part of a series of 40 days of lent – for more information check out www.cupcork.ie/lent
It’s one of those emotions that makes you smile – For me small things bring me joy
A walk in a beautiful garden
A lovely cup of coffee
A chat with a friend
Our comfy sofa at the end of the day
…
Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit – what are the things that bring you joy? How can you be joyful in the midst of the circumstances you find yourself in at the moment?
There are many barriers when it comes to doing anything
Fear ( what happens if it goes wrong?)
Experience (it didn’t go too well the last time!)
Understanding (I don’t know how….)
Self critique ( who am I … theres others better suited)
Peer pressure ( what will ‘they’ think)
Culture / Societial norms
…
All of these things are genuine … and they are barriers – Barriers can be good they can protect us from obvious danger but they can hold us back from things that might otherwise be good.
At the top of a cliff-face a barrier is a good thing but given the right safety precautions (ie a rope, harness and qualified instructor) you safely go through the barrier and trust that they know what they are doing and face the fear of absailing.
We’re not talking about crazy stuff we talking about testing and seeing and trusting and letting go & Letting God
This is a blog for lent in 2021 in a series by Revd Robert Ferris – the others can be found www.cupcork.ie/lent
During my PGCE year – a year where I was teaching in Secondary Schools I ended up for quite a bit of my time in a strange room where people like me student teachers, Classroom assistants etc would hang out quite a bit – this room had a label on the door – Resource Base.
I always thought it strange – it was a catch all term for a room with stuff in it! – There were computuers, Laminators, photocopiers, papercutters and a whole pile of other things that may be useful to staff at some point in time
Today’s lent question is strange – What resources do you have for life?
There’s a whole lot if you sit down and think about it:
The things you own, The access to information, The citizenship you hold
The resources of faith,
Our time, talents and treasure
the joys of the natural world
…. many other things
We have a lot of resources we could make use of in any given situation day, month, year – sitting there ready to be utilized just like me in that resource base in that secondary school – not all the resources have to be used every day but they are there.
In life it strikes me – as a community there is so much potential for good and for transformation – in combining resources and sharing experiences … aw we go through lent this year let’s look at the things we have and see how we can make use of our God given resources.
A Strange thing to say – but this season of Lent is to be welcomed! In the introduction to our services online today I will welcome people with these words
Brothers and sisters in Christ: since early days Christians have observed with great devotion the time of our Lord’s passion and resurrection.
It became the custom of the Church to prepare for this by a season of penitence and fasting. At first this season of Lent was observed by those who were preparing for baptism at Easter and by those who were to be restored to the Church’s fellowship from which they had been separated through sin.
In course of time the Church came to recognize that, by a careful keeping of these days, all Christians might take to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in faith and in devotion to our Lord.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Lord to observe a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.
This Lent – I am working my way through a set of quite random but thought provoking questions all with some Bible links – today being ash wednesday the question
Ash Wednesday – A day when we recall our mortality and our mission – What does that mean to me?
Links to our online services can be found on www.cupcork.ie/hall – 10am & 7.30pm
Robert
This is a series of Blogposts for Lent 2021 – the series can be found on www.cupcork.ie/lent
As I prepare for Lent I’m reading the passion narrative from Matthew’s Gospel. Today’s reading included the questioning of Jesus by the High Priest after his arrest
“What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.” Ironically, they were right, but not for the reason that they were thinking of. Not for blasphemy but for redemption. Yes, he is worthy and we are not.
John the Baptizer said: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Jesus said: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
and again “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
A Roman Centurion said: “That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
The twenty-four elders in glory declare: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
And again in a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
No wonder that the Psalmist declares: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”
Yes, he is worthy and we are not.
Robert says – As I read this I was reminded of this song – Let’s praise God!
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