Dear friends in Christ at Peace and Grue,
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10).
We are deep into the season of Epiphany, deep into winter, deep into a year of Covid-19, where has this year gone? Time does not mean anything in itself; it requires to be gathered into categories, seasons by which we picture ourselves and our life in the world. Mythic time may be the only meaningful time. In this mythic time we are on the threshold of Lent. A time when you are marked by ashes and hear the ancient words, Memento mori,
Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.
Yes, we are on the verge of Lent once more. Lent means spring and tears. During Lent our Sunday readings will tell of a personal journey, the journey of one human through human suffering and human crucifixion which become all the human journeys everywhere. The suffering is the suffering of Jesus, but we will not escape it. He will become the example for us to follow:
“Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life loses it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also; whoever serves me, the Father will honor.'"(John 12:23-26)
While Jesus was talking to Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration about the suffering in which he was taking a new lead, he began to shine, brighter than the sun on a clear winter day as the glory shone in him. They do not stand against one another: cross and resurrection. Resurrection comes by way of death. The suffering of Jesus will consist in his becoming the form of our hopes in our struggles wherever we are. He becomes the very body of humanity in which this struggle goes on, and we belong to that body. It is the body in which we are present to one another in good times and bad. Just some thought to help prepare you for Lent.
Speaking of the body, it has been difficult not to gather in person for worship on a regular basis this past year. It was disappointing to have to go back to on-line worship because of the Covid-19 spike in our area in November. We will always hold the health and safety of our members as a high priority. The good news, at least in our area, is that the numbers have come down, for which we are thankful. I want you to know that this has not went unnoticed and that if there are no more spikes now that our community is beginning to reopen we will be making plans to safely return to in person worship again.
Hope to see you in person soon,
~Pastor Dan