Genesis 17:1-7;15-16.
Romans 4:13-25.
Mark 8:31-38.
The three of them stood there looking out over the sand. Well it wasn’t all sand. There were rocks and boulders, hard packed yellow stuff and occasional dust clouds as the lighter soils billowed in the wind.
The three just looked. One was dressed in shorts and t-shirt with flip-flops on his feet. Hardly suitable wear for what was ahead.
One was in heavy anorak, salopettes, huge walking boots, a warm hat and thinsulate gloves more suited to the snow slopes than where they were. His rucksack was packed with everything imaginable from water bottles to maps, spare clothing, primus stove, tent, and every type of quick reconstituted food that could be found.
The third stood with a shabby goat. The poor thing had a ragged coat, gaunt ribs, feet that were bleeding and was an ill-suited companion.
The three stood and looked over the sand. In the very far distance there were three miniscule trees with branches at right angles and beyond them what looked like a cave from which issued an indescribable light. But it was so far away and the land between was inhospitable and barren.
The first turned back realising that he was not able to make the journey. The second turned back realising that he was not able to make the journey. But the third set out with only the shabby goat for company.
He went into the desolate place, which was inhabited, by wild beasts and scapegoats. Scapegoats – animals on which the sins of the people had been cast, and then driven out into the desert. Whenever the goat tried to return to habitation it was driven back to the desolate places where it had to fend for itself if it was to survive.
He went with the goats and the wild beasts into the desert, the wilderness and got ready to tell everyone about the kingdom of God by living very simply, even going without food and letting God lead him into areas he needed to think about. He wanted to spend time finding out what God really wanted.
We have entered the season of Lent.
Are we finding out what God really wants from us ?
We can journey with him in the desert or like the two who stood by his side when the journey beckoned, can turn our back and continue with the life style we find easiest.
Nowadays life continues in much the same manner between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It is not easy to take that walk into the desert. It is not easy to do what God wants us to do. We can try to keep our Lenten observances of fasting, bible reading and attending the study groups but while we are doing that life continues among our neighbours without such considerations and there is an almost total lack of understanding when we explain what is seen as our quirkiness.
We have a God who waits, a God who saves and a God who proclaims Good News.
Jesus faced a journey with particularly gruesome destination. At the start of a journey it is vital to identify the destination with absolute clarity if there is to be any chance of staying the course.
In the wilderness Jesus could focus on the ultimate and not just the immediate. At the same time, however, those spaces bring the big temptations to light. Usually simple everyday concerns can distract us from our journey quite satisfactorily, but in periods of steady contemplation much heavier guns must be used to blow us off course.
This time of wilderness experience was for Jesus, the final preparation for his public ministry. Jesus is given the opportunity to take stock of what lies before him, both the destination and the obstacles in between.
Today the desert experience of lent continues with Jesus determined that his disciples should be fully aware of the implications of his true identity. Mark tells us that immediately following their recognition of him as God’s Messiah, he starts spelling out to them what this means and how it differs from their dreams.
The God of truth insists on our knowing the truth even if it might turn us against him or temporarily hurt us or upset our plans. Gently, but firmly and openly, Jesus outlines the real Messiah’s role, a role in which suffering, rejections and death are inevitable.
It is a reminder to us that we shall be tempted , time and time again, to take the easier route and thus avoid the conflicts which are bound to accompany committed discipleship.
But we can use Lent to ask God for Faith. For faith, a commitment of faith has far reaching implications and will enable us to resist giving up because we feel powerless.
Faith will help us to see what we have in all the gifts and blessings bestowed upon us by a loving creator. And Faith will empower us to make sacrifices and share our resources.
As we have this opportunity at Lent to refocus, and guided by the Holy Spirit we will arrive at Easter Day stronger and more integrated people ready to go out in God’s power.
AMEN
Rev’d Edwina Wallace