EXPLORING THE BIBLE

So, while we may hear the cries of the people and the enthusiasm for the donkey rider we know that he has taken a heart-rending step towards the abyss.

April 2020 is Easter month. We embark on an Easter journey that starts in Bethphage and ends in Emmaus. It is a journey that starts with Jesus on a donkey…

Grief comes in many forms: grief at the death of a loved one or respected leader; grief as we watch illness rob someone of precious abilities; grief as we discover that we will never reach a cherished personal goal or grief when someone for whom we had high hopes disappoints us, to name just a few.

Whilst most wars now are over petroleum, soon they will be over water. Pacific Islanders’ homes are even now being inundated by sea water. Who will welcome them in and give them a place for themselves? Deserts are expanding in Africa. People are being forced to migrate. Who will welcome them in?

…. we the church are called to be a pilgrim people, never content to settle into a fixed routine, always open to new insights into how we should worship and whom we should serve. With many of our congregations now without settled ministers, God may be inviting us to explore new ways of doing church together.

Lent offers us a time to reflect on who we are, and how we are to relate to other people who are equally God’s beloved. It calls us to allow ourselves to be changed by God’s love, not just to give up some rather insignificant indulgence for a few weeks, although such a fast might help concentrate our minds on the real challenges.

We enter Lent with a mix of emotions/thoughts, this is reflected in the lessons for this day.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by. And that has made all the difference.”

…the challenge is to find such a balance between the gratification of honour & encouragement and our human response of selfish pride.

Familiar Bible passages, re-read, often yield previously missed gems. Both Gospel passages for this day are those dreamed of rich reefs.