Dear Friends,
As we make our way from winter into spring, I am always amazed at how quickly the time goes by. It seems like just days ago we were celebrating the seasons of Advent and Christmas and now here we are moving on to Lent and Easter!
I think that the season of Lent always catches me a bit off guard because I am a person who likes to linger a bit in the joy of Christmas. Where Advent and Christmas come with lights, gifts, and celebration, Lent tends to arrive with solemnity, fasting, and penitence. And, as if to make matters worse, in these northern climates, Lent always seems to arrive during the greyest and cloudiest time of the year, so we’re all already a bit dreary with a touch of “S.A.D.” (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Of course, we know that at the end of the season of Lent comes the joy of Easter and the Resurrection, so it’s not all doom and gloom; but we also know that in order to get to Easter, we have to work our way up to Good Friday and the cross, which can be a challenge. Well, if you’re like me and find Lent and this journey to the cross to be a difficult thing, rest assured that you’re in good company. The disciples of Jesus weren’t too thrilled with this idea either.
During the ministry of Jesus, whenever he predicted his death and resurrection, whenever he explained that his way was the way of the Cross, the disciples repeatedly demonstrated that they were not on board. When faced with this prospect, they would either act confused (Luke 9:44-45), try to change the subject (Mark 9:31-37), or argue with him outright (Matt . 16:21-23). The journey to the cross would be a difficult thing to accept for anyone, but the idea of Jesus going to the cross was unthinkable.
This is why it is so helpful that as the gospels and our church year turn toward the crucifixion and Lent, we get the story of the Transfiguration. In this story, God gives us a flash of light to show us the way as Jesus is transfigured in front of Peter, James, and John. In standing Jesus beside Moses, and Elijah, and by the voice of God saying, “This is my son, the Beloved. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7), God the Father is making it clear beyond any doubt that the way of Jesus is the way of the Cross. On the mount of Transfiguration, we are assured that even though it may be the difficult way it is the right way.
There’s a story of three prospectors who lived in the western United States during the gold rush of the 1800’s. They had been up on a mountain digging for gold when they struck a vein of the precious metal that would be enough to make them rich beyond imagination. There was so much gold that they couldn’t dig it all out at that moment, so they decided that they would go into town to get food and supplies. As they travelled the few miles into town they made a promise to one another that they would tell no one of what they had found, because if word got out, the mountain would be swarmed with others looking for the gold.
They quietly purchased the supplies needed and took their lunch in a local pub. After their meal, they started up the road back up the mountain to their mine and they were surprised to see a crowd of excited prospectors following them on their route. Immediately, the men got into an argument with one another, each accusing the others of telling someone about the gold.They all denied the accusations and decided to settle the matter by asking someone in the crowd behind them who it was that told them about their find. The man following them said, “Nobody told us that you found anything. We could see it on your faces! It was clear from the look on your faces that you’d found something special!”
As people of faith, we have found something special…or perhaps to say it more accurately, something special has found us. On the mountain, Jesus is declared God’s beloved son, and because of the Love that God has for us, Jesus follows the way of the cross. This means that whatever season of the year we are in, and whatever season of our lives we are in, Christ is with us.
So as we make our way through the grey days of Lent to the joy of Easter, may we do so knowing that we have something better than gold. We have the love of Christ, so may our lives…and our faces… reflect that love to the world!
Yours in Christ,
Jake