N T Wright, one time Bishop of Durham and renowned theologian advocates that “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.”
How do we see God, what are the chief characteristics we perceive of the Divine as we journey though Lent?
A boy asked his father, “Dad, what is the size of God? How big is He?”
The Father looked up at the sky and saw a little plane In the far distance and asked his son, “What is the size of the plane in the sky?”
The boy replied, “It is really small. I can hardly see it in the sky."
Then, the father said, “Son, let’s go on a trip to the airport. I want to show you something.”
The boy jumped in his father’s car and off they went to the airport.
As they approached the plane, the father asked his son: “Now, Son, how big is this plane?” The boy looked at the airplane and said, “Wow, Dad, that plane is huge! It’s a lot bigger than that plane in the sky, isn’t it!”
Then the father put his arm around his son and said, “Son, God’ size is like this plane. It is the same one you saw in the sky from a distance and it looked so small. God’s size depends on how close or how far you are from him. The closer you are……the more we see of God ”
In Matthews Gospel (5:8) we read, “Jesus You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”
We have no portrait of you, Lord, but in the Beatitudes you show us your interior landscape, the source of your joy. This is not a set of regulations, but a vision of where true happiness lies.
As I pray, your goodness is the ground of my expectation. Therefore, I confidently ask that you strengthen me to enjoy Your goodness personally and reflect your goodness publicly. May my family, friends, neighbours, peers, co-workers, acquaintances, and even enemies, experience your goodness through me today. Amen
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