Lent - Week Three (Discover)

Week three – Discover

From our recognizing and with our gathering, we soon discover the gift that we receive in sharing our laments. We see that we are not alone.  We find that we do not have the strength to pick up the pieces ourselves, there are others to help, to support and to gather with us.

 In this discovery, we find that God is already and always present in our midst. 

There are most certainly times when we cry aloud “where are you, God?” and when we are uncertain of God’s role in our lives.  Yet, God has been there the whole time.  God has not abandoned us, but rather has been waiting to welcome us home – just as the father welcomed his prodigal son home (Luke 15:11-32).

In Greek, the word for repent is metanoia which literally means to turn around.  It is a refocusing our attention.  It is no longer relying solely on our own strength, but turning back to the One who created us in shalom.

Lost in our own sorrow or shame, eyes blinded by tears and uncertainty, we do not see the One who has never left our side.  Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus at the empty tomb, but thinks that he is the gardener (John 20:11-18).  We too may meet Jesus unexpected ways or at the very least in the ways that we want God to be.

            

Henri Nouwen, during a dark time in his life, wrote in his journal: “You have to trust the place that is solid, the place where you can say yes to God’s love even when you don’t feel it.  Right now you feel nothing except emptiness and the lack of strength to choose.  But keep saying “God loves me, and God’s love is enough.”  You have to choose the solid place over and over again and return to it after every failure.”

Yet, God surprises us and appears unexpectedly when we were are ready to discover what God has to offer and not just what we think that we want.  Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  It is in our turning to God that we discover the abundant life that God offers to us.

Reflect on the times when you have experienced a sign of God’s presence.  Maybe you had a sense of God as you saw something in nature or in a relationship with another person; maybe it was in something that you read or a piece of music.

Pieces for reflection: each week, different passages, poems, songs, etc. will be suggested to use for your own reflections on the week’s theme.  Use whichever ones are most helpful for you.  As you do so, use the following questions to guide you in your reflections:

1)   What about this speaks to my own life?

2)   What might God be saying to me through this?

3)   How will I approach my life in a new way?

Suggested resources:

1)   Read Joel 2:1-17

2)   Read Matthew 22:1-14

3)   Song: “And God descended” by Dar Williams (https://open.spotify.com/track/7jPYvh1s3cVIlnRN5hH1IN)

Lyrics:

Step through his trampled wall, the unhinged door betrays it all,

that far Within our faith we were all waiting.

The broken glass reflects the haze, it Shines like endless holy days,

struggling to remember what they're Celebrating.

Refrain: Well a God descended, and the real time ended.

His light was Lifted just above the law,

and now we have to live with what we did, with what We saw.

Well you mend your clothes and patch your roof

and slivers of God's Shattered truth grow tender

as the grass in clean swept yards.

But a savior Came and told us how the truth was all around us now,

abandon house and field And gather up the shards, (refrain)

You build your faith with strength and duty, build your Love,

but there's a beauty, well you know the scriptures tell,

there are a few Shards left in hell, and if we wanted God

we had to follow, follow him down, Him down.

There were picture torn out of their frames

and orgies where we lost our names,

ending all with Time's real desire.

Well you ask how God can curse you thus,

that's not a Question asked by us, we burnt our books and beds,

we fear we've lost the Fire. (refrain)

Songwriters: DAR WILLIAMS

And A God Descended lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Weekly reflections written and developed by Pastor Jennifer E.  Boyd

Additional Resources used:

The Millennial Narrative by Jaco Hamman (weekly themes gleaned from this book)

“The Inner voice of Love” by Henri Nouwen

 “We will Remember” CD, songs and music by Christopher Williams

All Biblical citations are from the New Revised Standard version (unless otherwise noted)