Our entry into Holy Week will provide an appropriate wrap up for our Lenten conversation. The journey has not been complete but it has been favorably rich from my perspective. We have thought together about a number of social, cultural, and economic factors that relate to poverty. Together we have experienced personal sharing and the Biblical narrative as we sought to engage our lives with the experience of those who have very little in the world.
I have been impacted in several ways. My faith has been encouraged by knowing that there are people around the world who are serving day by day to make life better for those who struggle. At the same time, my faith has been challenged when I realize how little I do personally to touch the lives of people who live all around me. In a very real way, I know I have learned how to trust in a way that puts the other person first. And (from a very personal point of view) I have learned the names of several people from our community who live either homeless or on the edge.
Our Biblical journey would not be complete without a comment from Jesus. There was a day when he began to teach along the Galilee hill country. Crowds from Jerusalem, the Decapolis, and the Trans-Jordan gathered to hear him speak. They did not know what they would hear, but that were anxious to listen.
He told them that they should be glad when people persecuted them. He looked into their eyes and called them light and salt. He taught them from ancient paths that were being reshaped to touch their lives on that day. She spoke of loving those who stood in opposition as enemies. And he taught them about generosity...do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing...do not store up treasures on earth. Then he began to close his comments with a great promise, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
The people did not know what to think. Was he just a radical who had no common sense. Or was he (from the words of C.S. Lewis) another liar, a lunatic, or could he be Lord of all.
Easter morning is at hand. It is time to decide. It is time to live. How then shall we live our lives. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Thanks for being a part of the journey...from here, we will shift to another journey. We will be sharing about our upcoming move as we depart the Wilson community of faith to become a part of the Parker United Methodist Church. We leave with sorrow for the loss of relationships, with joy for the incredible work that has been done, and with wonder for all God will do through a great group of disciples. Amen
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