Today we begin our journey through the 40 days of Lent. Many of us will receive and wear our ashes to remind us that we are mortal, and as a sign of our desire to follow Jesus all the way to Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus recognizes that it is time to start that journey:
When the days drew near for him to
be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)
The
disciples are also on this journey with us and with Jesus. They have been following Jesus for the three
years of his ministry, watching him heal, teach, and challenge the religious
authorities of his day. He has told stories (parables), and he has shown his
dependence on his Abba, God-the-Father, who sent him, God-the-Son, to show us
new ways of understanding God’s tremendous love for us. Now, the disciples will
walk with Jesus toward all that will happen in Jerusalem. They don’t know what will happen, although we
do. And they still have a lot to learn
from him, just as we do. Each Wednesday until Holy Week, I will post one of
these reflections on how Jesus continued teaching along the journey to
Jerusalem.
In the very next
verses of Luke 9 (9:52-55), two of the disciples, James and John, angered
because the Samaritans will not allow them to rest in their village, urge Jesus
to call down fire from heaven to destroy the village. Clearly, they understand
that Jesus has the power from God to do this; just as clearly, they don’t
understand that is completely inconsistent with his mission.
Then, others wish
to join Jesus and the disciples (Luke 57-62), but they have other priorities:
desire to be comfortable and secure, to first bury a father, to say farewell to
those he is about to leave. But Jesus makes it clear that following him must
always take priority: “Jesus said to
him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom
of God.” (Luke 9:62)
For the most part, we will all be comfortable and secure during this Lent, and we will be able to fulfill our responsibilities to ourselves and others. But as we choose to observe Lent this year, may we be reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus by how we live our faith. If we have chosen a practice for Lent, whether we have chosen to deny ourselves something or to fast from some negative emotion (anger, complaining, resentment, or another) or to do some special reading or prayers, may we be reminded each day of our vocation as his committed followers.
Prayer (by Satish Kumar): May God kindle in us the fire of love to bring us alive and give warmth to the world. Lead us from death to life; from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.
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