At that, sounding in the first hearing like a contradiction, is what we come across
the very essence of Jesus.
He came among us to show that most godly of characteristics; self-giving love.
He spoke of his life in terms of a seed being thrown into the ground where it
seemed as if it died. Yet, under the
soil in the darkness, it germinated and grew up into a harvest of wheat.
During Lent and on Good Friday we remember Jesus being given up upon the
cross. To many watching it seemed the
ultimate failure, yet because of Jesus today the cross, both inside and outside
of the Christian tradition, stands for love, compassion, assistance and peace.
Two years ago next week we entered that first official and prolonged lockdown
of the pandemic. Our world became
smaller and more focussed and regularly we applauded and admired those
frontline workers who, in the days before a vaccine, literally gave of
themselves to keep society going. Again
and again, we encountered sacrificial love and cross shaped generosity.
Lent doesn’t have to be a bleak and joyless time,
indeed it shouldn’t be. Before us is the
example of the Lord Jesus and his self-giving love and nothing makes faith more
‘joy-filled’ and ‘down to earth’ that acts of loving service that reflect that
side of our Saviour. It is, indeed, in
giving that we receive.
Today is St Patrick’s Day, so happy Saint’s Day to all our Irish friends! We don’t really know much about St Patrick
and he was probably English anyway! Many
think he was sold into slavery and taken to Ireland where he worked for many
years in forced labour. Eventually he
returned home to England before receiving a call, which he considered to be ‘of
God’, to return to Ireland, this time as a missionary.
May themes of sacrificial giving and generous love give us all a sense of joy and hope as we continue our journey through Lent.
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