Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, 5 March 2014

They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you. – Jeremiah 1:19

And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. – Mark 11:18

Change can be very frightening. The chief priests and scribes had realised that Jesus teaching would turn the world they knew upside down. They were trying their best to preserve the faith that had been handed down to them; the faith which their forefathers had faithfully preserved before them. They were caught between a rock and a hard place trying to appease the Roman occupiers and to maintain their authority from the many challenges within. But as fear grips them they are not able to see that there is liberation in this teaching which does not cling on to earthly powers. Jeremiah’s task was similar to that of Jesus. His preaching was going to cause offence because it challenged the status quo; his words were going to challenge those in power.

Fear has two sides. It can be debilitating when it overwhelms us to the extent that we are unable to hope. The priests and scribes were unable to accept change which might bring in a better understanding to follow the Law of Moses.

However, knowing that what we fear most might happen can let us focus on hope. Jeremiah knew that the fall of Jerusalem would be inevitable if the hubris of the court would be left unchallenged. Jesus knew that he had to face his final journey to Jerusalem. As we enter Lent, will we be able open ourselves to be challenged? Can we reimagine our relationship with God? Hopefully, we will be able to use our fear to focus on renewing our trust in God, and the redemption he offers us.

Loving God, give us open hearts and minds to be challenged in all those things we hold dear which might hold us from loving you. Amen.

James Grant, 

St Clement’s/St Werburgh’s