Lent

Over recent years, we have been confronted by the powerless of our world, perhaps most evident in the war torn areas of Ukraine or Gaza Strip. Putting ourselves into the situation faced by the powerless is almost beyond our comprehension. When we read such words as “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine”, we find great difficulty equating this with the plight of the people of Ukraine  and Gaza.

On the other hand, we need to remember what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 9:23-25, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?”

Lent invites us to consider what we are really looking for as we hear Jesus say that it is possible to gain the world and lose oneself. Maybe this Lent is the time to ask God to help us, through our time of quiet and prayer, and to recognise how we are being called to life. There are many ways in which we can enjoy the gains and benefits of the world. Yet, how do these distract us from what is for our lasting good? For what wisdom might we ask?

Sheila Cassidy in her book Good Friday people tells how she met many dispossessed people, including Anna McKenzie  whose life was completely turned upside down when she was left  paralysed in a road traffic accident caused by drunk lorry driver.

I wonder if Anna’s poem speaks for the powerless people in our current waring world.

We, without a future,

Safe, defined, delivered

Now salute you God,

Knowing that nothing is safe,

Secure, inviolable here,

Except you,

And even that eludes our minds at times.

We did not want it easy God,

But we did not contemplate

That it would be quite this hard,

This lone, this lonely.

We pray that you will keep faith in us,

And we with you,

Holding our hands as we weep,

Giving us strength to continue,

And showing us beacons 

Along the way

To becoming new.

Lord for our troubled world

We pray for all how suffer, 

for refugees and orphans, 

for families disrupted by war.

We pray for church worker and mission partners 

for all who work with the oppressed.

Help us to work for justice, 

with which we have not right to peace. Amen