Lent has us journey with Jesus. From words whispered over the water, ‘you are my beloved’ to his cry ‘it is finished’, we follow.
‘You are my beloved’ should resonate in our bones because those words are for us too.
In the story of his baptism, Jesus does not amble into the wilderness. He is compelled, driven by love to step off the well-worn path and learn from angels. What a provocative image of what love calls us to do, Beloved.
Angel means messenger and there are many messengers ready to teach us from their lived experience. Listen carefully for the wisdom outside your own ken. Jesus listened to the children, to those pushed to the margins, to the Syrophoenician woman and the Samaritan at the well. He embraced every encounter and his love-inspired justice expanded exponentially. We can do that too and it is a gift!
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Every act of hope lights the way and adds it glow to uncertain paths. Together, we can counter hate that tries to smother small acts of good. Together, small acts of hope magnify and multiply and become unstoppable.
Jesus had the audacity to hold onto hope.
Our Lenten journey asks us to embrace that same audacious spirit.
Which parade will we join?
Later, when the war horses of Rome enter Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus will enter on a donkey. Where will we place ourselves, which parade do we join, who do we believe brings life?
Will we cheer the parade of power, or will our palm branches blanket the way with peace?
At the end, when Jesus sighs ‘it is finished,’ will we still be there? Will we stubbornly hold the hope? Beloved body of Christ, lights in the darkness, walk on together.
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A million acts of hope
This May, Christian Aid is adding its support to a campaign highlighting hope. Our news overflows with fear. All around us we see the stark failure to find peace and justice. It is writ large. But every day, across our global neighbourhood, people step up and show up for each other.
The status quo counts on our apathy. Let’s surprise it by reminding each other that good is here to stay.
During Christian Aid Week, you’re giving, acting and praying for a better, fairer, more equitable and loving world. Share your stories, shine a light on the love lived out in our communities.
