Dear All
Today we celebrated the First Sunday of Lent.
This morning we welcomed Fraser to peach, as always he had many wise words to share to give us guidance as we embark on our Lenten journey.
As in recent years The Ignatian Spirituality Centre is offering a course for Lent, available online or from a book. This year the theme is “Lives to Inspire” it is set in the usual context of a piece of art, music, biblical text and reflection. The ISC courses are always excellent, so I thoroughly recommend this as a resource for Lenten Devotions. Books are available at church or online at onlineprayer.net.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House
Readings for next Sunday – 2nd Sunday of Lent – Genesis 12:1-4a Romans 4:1-5,13-17 John 3:1-17
Today’s Readings – Genesis 2 :15-17, 3:1-7 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4: 1-11
Sermon preached by Fraser
Sentence: ‘We shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
Traditionally Lent is a time of sacrifice, austerity, hardship. This sat very easily on the lives of people centuries ago, when food was available by locally determined harvest times. Meat was salted or preserved in season and stored to be used over the winter. Once consumed, the only fresh protein source was likely to be fish. Where I grew up, there were ancient villages and even deserted village sites, where the remains of ancient fish ponds could be clearly seen. Now we have shops full of fresh food from far away places all year round. This means we have to think about what changes we intend to make for Lent.
This is not to say that we don’t need to think about or explore the value of sacrifice in a reflective and disciplined way. War in Ukraine, dreadful earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria have brought home dramatically how fortunate we are to live in peace and plenty. Even without these events, I was already approached by Christian Aid with an appeal because there was a shortfall in funds to support the international needs they were already committed to supporting. So this Lent we might reflect on these situations and adjust to respond in some way. The world is very much a global village now so our neighbours can be seen in those who once were thought of as far away. In our prayer lives we refer in our service every time we come to communion to the needs of others in an ever widening network in our intercessions. As Jesus asked after telling the parable of the good Samaritan; ‘Who then was the neighbour?’
These thoughts are just taking account of our current situation, but every year we use Lent as a time to take stock of our spiritual lives. Just as the world is constantly changing, so in our spiritual lives we never stand still. We can ask ourselves about prayers, Bible reading, preparation for worship and communion. Also very important is to reflect on the previous months or year. What have we learnt? What experiences have we had that may have inspired or uplifted us? How have our relationships developed? What should we give thanks for? Particularly we can reflect on prayers and bible study.
Today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings are so well known and so frequently quoted that we may take them for granted but they can speak powerfully. The story of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge might suggest as Paul does that sin entered from that moment in the history of humankind. It might also remind us that if we think we have all knowledge we will never learn anything new. That is true for scientists and theologians alike, and reminds us that however we strive we always have something new to learn or achieve, so we can never be perfect. If that is a daunting thought, where do we look to grow and gain confidence?
In our Gospel reading of Christ’s temptations we see something of an answer. Each of the Temptations , to turn stones into bread, to create a sensational miracle by falling from a great height and landing unhurt, ruling as an earthly ruler over a great empire in return for paying homage to devilish forces, was met confidently by; ‘Scripture says: ”Man shall not live by bread alone….” “You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.” “You shall do homage to the Lord your God and to him alone.” ( Deuteronomy 4 and 8, Psalm 91 )
These responses were the words of someone who had read and absorbed those Scriptures truly deeply, also using Deuteronomy and Psalms at least every week in the Synagogue. Few of us could respond so confidently even after a lifetime of study. What we can get with a regular reading and study of Scripture is promptings from the text to guide us or occasional flashes of revelation and inspiration. This is why in the season of Lent we are urged to be more disciplined, more reflective, and more open and responsive to God’s Word.
Study guides and special reading and reflection in Lent, help us both as individuals and as a support to each other.
If we feel we are faltering or not doing well enough, the Psalm for today speaks from the heart of one who had felt just that: “ You are my hiding place, you preserve me from trouble, You surround me with shouts of deliverance. ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go,’ ” Psalm 32:8-9
‘We shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’