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The Journey Begins


The season of Lent is typically a time of reflection and prayer. The gospel stories over the next six weeks will take us on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem, ultimately leading to Easter Sunday morning with the dawn of new life and new hope for this tattered human race.

There are several ways for us to enter into this time of reflection this year. You can join a study group (Beyond Belief), do some personal reflections with the United Church daily Lenten resource (Something Sacred), join our Lenten Walks each Sunday afternoon, or you can explore your own spiritual practice(s). My hope is that whatever you choose to do, it will be exactly what you need at this time on your faith journey. I look forward to being your companion along the
journey.

The gospel reading this Sunday launches us off into the wilderness with Jesus. At his baptism in the River Jordan he heard the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Then he was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to figure out what those words would mean to him and to his ministry. The temptations he faced seemed to cover all the bases. They were personal, political, and spiritual. At every turn, Jesus had the courage to turn a temptation into a purpose: to feed the hungry, to work toward justice in the world, and to faithfully nurture his relationship with God.

The Lenten road stretches out before us. Despite the amazing navigation systems that direct our path, we never know for certain what we may encounter along the way, or when the next detour may take us off the beaten path. No matter how pleasant or difficult this season may be, let’s not loose sight of the light on the horizon guiding us toward Easter morning.

Peace and joy,
Nancy