Through the weeks of Lent the invitation is there to take a journey with God and with others as we follow the steps that took Jesus to the cross and through the cross to resurrection life.

The journey is from where we are now to where God is leading us.  We don’t always know where the journey will take us, so we can’t get the tourist guide book out and pick and choose the sights we want to see.  We may take the time to follow where others have led and look at what has been important for them, but more importantly we can take up the invitation to look again at what it means to take that journey as disciples, those who are learning from God and one another as we go.

Setting out to walk with Jesus

We know how this story ends:
comfortless on a stripped-down tree.
We could skim Lent and miss out the hard parts,
we could skip the middle, could race to the end.
Lord, help me drop the baubles, the excess baggage of my life and
step out on the whole rugged way with You. Amen

Symbols

Sand at the foot of the cross to indicate wilderness; pledges to follow the whole way on purple paper and pinned round the base.

Genesis 9: 8–17

God said to Noah and his sons: ‘I am now establishing my covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, all birds and cattle, all the animals with you on earth, all that have come our of the ark. I shall sustain my covenant with you: never again will all living creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood, never again will there be a flood to lay waste the earth.’

God said, ‘For all generations to come, this is the sign which I am giving of the covenant between myself and you and all living creatures with you:

my bow I set in the clouds
to be a sign of the covenant
between myself and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
the rainbow will appear in the clouds.

‘Then I shall remember the covenant which I have made with you and with all living creatures, and never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all creation. Whenever the bow appears in the cloud, I shall see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and living creatures of every kind on earth.’  So God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant which I have established with all that lives on earth.’

This is a new beginning, both for God and for the people. Once again there is the invitation to be working together.

• The story of the flood is not an easy one. Because of the drama of the story, the animals and the rainbow, we have often turned it into a children’s story, but what do you make of it? Many cultures have ‘flood stories’. Why do you think that might be?
• Rainbows are hard to miss. Sometimes Christians take the presence of a rainbow as a sign to them that they have made a right choice in life or work. Are rainbows just a beautiful trick of the light or do they mean something more to you than that. Take time to reflect on this.

Mark 1: 9–15

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. As he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens break open and the Spirit descend on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son; in you I take delight.’

At once the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness, and there he remained for forty days tempted by Satan. He was among the wild beasts; and angels attended to his needs.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘The time has arrived; the kingdom of God is upon you. Repent, and believe the gospel.’

• A new beginning for Jesus. We read of an experience of hearing the Spirit affirming who he is and his relationship with God, but then that same Spirit drives him into the desert place and for forty days his vocation, purpose and identity are tested. Luke’s gospel expands this. (Luke 4: 1–13).
  Have you ever had this kind of experience? How did Jesus respond to it? Reflect on what this might mean for you.

Take time to consider:

Both these readings have ‘supernatural’ elements to them, but both are about how people will go about following God’s way in their everyday lives. They are also about beginnings and change.

• What is it that takes up most of your day? If you are employed, it may be your job. If you are looking for work, that may take up your time. If retired, there will be other things. Looking after home and children or grandchildren may take up much of your time. Take time to reflect, with others if you are in a group, on how you make choices about work or other aspects of life. Do you have a choice? How conscious are you of God leading you?
• What are the aspects of work (paid or not) are a real challenge? Are there aspects that you struggle with as a Christian?
• What support or resources do you draw on to help you?
• Are there ways in which the Church supports you? Could there be more?

If you have time, consider this:

What resources would we need as a Church to be able to support people better in their work lives?

You may choose to consider these questions as a group, with friends or on your own.  If you want to discuss any aspects further, either discuss with your group leader or contact Ernesto or Brenda.

For further reflection

You may also like to read the following passages and reflect on them:

Psalm 25: 1–10

1 Peter 3: 18–22

This meditation can be downloaded as a PDF file here: Lent Meditations 2015 Week One.