Thirty Fourth Day of Lent - Amazement

 

Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio,
in the National Gallery, London

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Luke 25

I love this picture.  It's quite something that Jesus was not recognised as he provided the new perspective on the series of fortunate events (Good Friday), as they walked together.  Recognition occurred at the breaking of the bread.  Bread in the Middle East means life.  We must eat to live.  We must rely on Jesus' sacrifice to sustain us.  It's impossible to survive otherwise.  In order to live the bread must take it into our bodies and become part of us.  It is no good chewing and spitting it out.  That wont do us any good. 

PRAYER: The amazing thing is that you sustain me.

Thirty Third Day of Lent - Stress

 

Folie Urbaine, by Sophie Petetin, Artsper.com

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.  I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.  And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 14

Stress is a modern concept, but the word comes from stricklus - or draw/tighten, in Latin.  So many times in the bible narrative the saviour is pushed close to a cliff edge.  The final time is when he is nailed through the body onto a board and murdered.  Finally evil triumphs.  But not for long.  Mercifully we can see the story from the vantage point of 'Anno Domini', (the year of our Lord).

PRAYER:  We are so privileged to know your story.   We know how it ends.

Thirty Second Day of Lent - Worry

Edvard Munch- Selvportrett
National Gallery, Oslo

 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  John 2

There is plenty to worry about if you think about it.  It is lovely to see young children having complete confidence in their providers.  They believe that all their needs will be met.  This is how we should be with our Creator.  

In a turn about for the books, Mary, Jesus' mother, has complete confidence that her son will know what to do.  Let us also emulate this trust.

PRAYER:  I cast all my cares on you, and trust my future into your hands.

Thirty First Day of Lent - Concern

 

Cactus Man by Odilon Redon

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Lady, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this follower took her into his home. John 19.

I like the quote that in good times, a person's personality is revealed.  In bad times, it's their character.  In this part of the Good Friday story, Jesus, in agony, remembers that his mother will need a male to protect her, and defend her rights.  We understand that he asks John (the writer) to do this, and it says that Mary from that day moved to live with him.

Concern is one of the many aspects of Love. 

PRAYER: May your love within he help me to be appropriately concerned for your world.

Thirtieth Day of Lent - Anxiety

 

Marija Tiurina, London based graphic artist,
working on 'Thought Slaughter' (see her website)

I ask that you show kindness to my child ‘Andy’, also known as Onesimus (the useful one). I have become his father, as he sort refugee in my prison cell. I know that he was not very ‘Handy’ in the past, but I tell you he is working for us both now. I have asked him to return to you, and he comes with a portion of my heart.  I was tempted to keep him for myself because I really needed his help. But I now look to you for your will and consent. It is my view that you lost Andy for a while, so that he can now return to you ‘forever’.

He left you as a slave, but he is returns to you as a brother; and in returning, his value has increased inestimably.  If you consider me your partner, I ask you to receive Andy as you would receive me. If he has stolen anything from you in the past, I will repay his debts in full. Letter to Philemon

Marija Tiurina (artist) gives an insight into what anxiety can do.  Anxiety can run wild, like a room full of young children at a birthday party who all start screaming and throwing cake (personal experience).

Onesimus (AKA 'H'andy), had run away and had no where to go.  He found Paul in his Roman prison cell.  Paul looked after him, and then sent him home, All Paul could offer was is 'influence' and a leader.

How often do our minds turn to 'chowder' as depicted by Marija?  Where do we go to find peace, and assurance?

PRAYER:  "Take it to the Lord in Prayer".

Twenty Ninth Day of Lent - Terror

Hell, by Hans Memling,
in the Musee des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg.
(Courtesy of the Guardian)

If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,

    knowing that I had influence in court,

22 

then let my arm fall from the shoulder,

    let it be broken off at the joint.

23 

For I dreaded destruction from God,

    and for fear of his splendour I could not do such things.  Job 31

Job speaks of his righteousness, motivated by terror for his Creator.  Many people believe the Creator to either be impersonal, a mysterious force, or simply to be 'above it all', not part of daily life.  A nine year old child dies in their sleep just down the road from me.  In Turkey and Syria, the death toil rises above 50,000.  

Should we experience terror?  Terror has been allowed in, and no one is immune.  But I find that instead of the fierce pedantic judge, I have courage in my soul, and strength needed to face the terror.  I walk on water, and grip the outstretched hand.

PRAYER:  Be with us through the storm, through the earthquake, and along the precipitous paths we follow. 

Twenty Eighth Day of Lent - Joy

Virgin and Child with St Anna
Albrecht Dürer Metropolitan Art Gallery,
New York

 "Ok, I'll spell it out again.  I'm warning you that soon I will leave you, and it will be awful.  You will be devastated (though others may be pleased).  However, I will return in joy…"

"…It's going to be like when a mother gives birth.  She knows the process will be extremely painful, but it will be worthwhile, because the baby comes with joy…

"…When I come back from the creator, you will have all you need, and the joy will take this present suffering away…"

"…Then you will ask in my name; but there will be no need, because you will ask the creator directly.  It will be the same thing.  I am simply going back to my origin with the creator…"

"We are slowly getting it", reassured Jesus’ friends. "You and the creator are one."

"Yes, you are believing me. Look, soon you are all going to be dispersed, and you will leave me alone.  But I won't be alone, because I am one with the creator."

"I'm telling you this to prepare you, so that it won't come as a shock, and trouble you. Be encouraged.  All things are to be set right.” John

Joy is present in the most unexpected places. Anna has been waiting with the assurance that she will see the coming of the messiah before she dies. Babies should bring joy, but this encounter is also full of meaning and awareness. Jesus goes on to speak of joy, mixed with terror. "I am leaving you, be prepared. Trust me, it's going to be alright."

PRAYER: What ever happens, I hold onto the joy I find in my heart.

Twenty Seventh Day of Lent - Humour

Lavenham

 Accept what the Creator has done,

Building with the crooked beams of humanity.

Enjoy what you have today. Remember that it might change.

Nothing is certain in this life.

Ecclesiastes 7

"Professor of Jewish theology and Near Eastern studies Leonard Greenspoon says, "In sum, biblical humour is certainly not stand-up comedy nor is it especially cerebral either. Rather, it is participatory and fully in keeping with the overall themes and emphases of the Hebrew Bible." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_humor)  

I like emotions that are 'participatory' rather than private.  Emotion is shared.  it feeds and nurtures itself.  If rises on wings, and then floats down again.  Can humour exist on it's own?  

I like these verses from Ecclesiastes.  I bent them somewhat to fit with Immanuel Kant's famous quote.  The creator builds with crooked beams.  Nothing quite marries up.  I remember asking a a conference on marriage what the speaker though of the concept of 'compatibility'.  He replied, "Yes that's the challenge.  Men and women are not compatible.  That's why you need to work hard at it."  

PRAYER: I know I make you smile.  Thank you for giving us so much fun.

Twenty Sixth Day of Lent - Contentment

Rembrandt, Self Portrait,
At Kenwood House. London.

 Then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth descending from the sky. The old heaven and the old

earth were gone; along with it, the sea. And there was a new Jerusalem, a perfect city, dressed like a bride ready to meet her groom.

A voice called out from the throne saying:

“At last, the Creator lives with all people. Once again, we are a family together.”

“This is the end of sorrow, pain, anguish and death.”

And the one on the throne called out saying:

“See, I am making all things new.”

Revelation 21

I sat in on a lessen in a Special School in Leicester.  The teacher was preparing three boys for their GCSEs.  They studies the work of Tzvetan Todorov.  Toderov was a Bulgarian-French academic and literacy critic who describe the typical story plot. The Todorov narrative form goes...

 Equilibrium - Disruption - Reparation - Equilibrium Again.

Is this not the story we are preparing for the Easter?  

PRAYER:  We praise you for completing the story.

Twenty Fifth Day of Lent - Ecstecy

 

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Santa Maria Della Vittoria, Rome

“I am speechless and in awe. Your beauty overwhelms me. I see your dark eyes beneath your veil.

Your hair cascades down. Your white teeth through that joyous smile. Lips like scarlet ribbons. I am fascinated by your mouth, your soft cheeks, and follow down your smooth neck. Your breasts, like two gentle fawns nestling in a bed of lilies. Before the dawn stirs and the shadow flee, I raced to the mountains to gather you good thing. You are so beautiful; beautiful in every way.

Come away with me. You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. Ever glance from you has power. Your love delights me. Your love is better than wine, your lips, sweeter than nectar. I taste honey and milk under your tongue. Your clothes smell of fragrance. We have a secluded garden, a place of spring, and flowing water. You are that garden, the fountain that flows, that springs with freshness."                                                                                                  Song of Songs 4

Like precious metals, some things are rare.  This context is important to them.  Miracles are rare, and so is ecstasy. Too much of it and you might explode.  Ecstasy is your birth right.  All on this earth should experience it.  But it can not be manufactured.  It is like 'the Northern Lights', or seeing a snow leopard.  It is like seeing the falling snow for the first time.  It is like falling in love.

And this is how it is when you get to know your Creator through Jesus.  

PRAYER:  Revive our relationship Jesus.

Twenty Fourth Day of Lent - Happiness

By Li Yihang, 7 years old. China Daily

 But for most, the burdens of life are heavy.

And yet all around us we see perfection.

Simply try to enjoy your life,

Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

The line in the sand is final. There is no going back.

Eternality has been planted in our hearts.

Ecclesiastes 3

Happiness is a deep emotion.  It can not be manufactured.  'Be Happy' is a silly thing to say.  

Happiness is something to reflect on.  "My, we did have fun." Often it's the simple things that are the most enjoyable.  An evening walk.  Pulling up potatoes. A smile across the room.

Jesus' life seems as if it were tough from beginning to end.  What made him happy?  What makes him happy now?  

PRAYER:  It is my desire to be happy with you.

Twenty Third Day of Lent - Triumph

A Roman Triumph by Ruebens (National Gallery London)

For in Christ all the fullness of the Creator lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought into fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also initiated with a initiation not performed by human hands. Your old self ruled by animal instincts was subdued when you were bonded to Christ, having put to death your selfish desires, and then raised up to join the Creator's purpose, who raised Jesus from the dead.

When you were dead in your selfishness, outside the fold,  the Creator made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our wrong doing having paid the fines for our crimes, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away by shouldering our punishment.  And having disarmed these powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by this act of sacrifice. Colossians 2: 9-15

Nothing much is as one might expect in the Bible.  The triumph over evil is not the triumph seen in classical pictures, or emulated by would be Caesars across the ages.  Our triumph is a quiet affair of the heart.  It is the assurance that when financial pressures hit, we will be alright.  When tragedy strikes, we will be alright.  And finally when my life comes to an end, I will pass away with company; with the one who has already died, and passed thought to another life.

Why should this not be true?  Wishful thinking?  The yearning of a broken heart?    

All I can say is that I have an assurance that can not be shifted, despite my best efforts at rationalising my thoughts.  This is the triumph.  That when I have no energy.  When I cannot invent a happy ending.  When despair is 'king', yet I know that I am not alone.  I matter and we matter.  

PRAYER:  You have triumphed in my life, and I am yours.

Twenty Second Day of Lent - Elation

16th May 2016 - Leicester City wins the Premiership Trophy

And there were thousands of people marked out equally from every tribe of Israel.

And after this I saw a multitude of people from every nation and tribe, too vast to count.

They were clothes in white tunics, and held up a palm branch in their hands.

They were calling in a great roar of sound.

“Salvation comes from the creator, the lamb, who is seated on the throne.”

Again, all the beings around the throne dropped to the ground and honoured the lamb.

“Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, strength

Belong to our Creator for ever and ever. Amen!”

One of the wise leaders came over to me and asked if I knew who these many people dressed in white where? I did not and enquired of her. She explained this:

“They are the people who died for the Creator in the great tribulation.

The lamb has made them pure and clean by his sacrifice. This is why they are able to stand safely before the throne and serve the lamb both night and day. They will never suffer hunger or thirst. The lamb feeds them from springs of living water, and the creator wipes away their tears.”  Revelation 7

We can experience a foretaste of what is to come.  Elation is often experienced in crowds.  The opposite can also be true.  The emotion is shared and grows.  

When Leicester City won the premiership, the city felt elated.  But this was just about a 90 minute games where a sack of air is lofted about a park in something akin to 'Brownian Motion'.  

The elation that comes from being with Jesus will last an eternity!

PRAYER: Jesus, I cannot wait to live with you without the current impediments that surround me now.

 

Twenty First Day of Lent - Excitement

Excitement by Peter Keresztury 
For sale on fineartamerica.com

It’s that time of the year when the whole community has a party.  Jesus is going too, but this time the party will be for him.  It’s very symbolic, because Jesus will soon be killed.  He is aware of this.  But right now excitement is in the air.  Jesus asks me to get things ready.

Fiesta Time

"Nip down into town to see Zac*.  He'll have a car waiting for you.  If he asks what I need it for, just say it's for my work, he'll understand."

I see Zac's legs sticking out from under a car.  

"For his Lordship eh?" says Zac, smiling.  “I've got just the thing.  Never been driven before.  A little cutie."  He directs me to a Mitsubishi Colt convertible.  "That will get eyes turning."  I reach for my wallet. "No, on the house,” he says. “My bit for the kingdom."

"You're not coming?" I ask. "You'll be all alone." 

Zac shrugs.  "The traffic will be terrible."

This is the biggest ever occasion in the calendar.  Everyone is on the move.  The roads are choker.

We join the melee.  As the other drivers notice who is in the car behind, the atmosphere changes.  There is cheering, and whooping.  Those with flags get them out of the windows and semaphore the message.  Teenagers stand up through sun roofs, waving arms, hair streaming out like banners.

Jay is shining, It's his big day.  An opportunity for people to show their appreciation and love for a guy who has done so much for this place.  Cars honk their horns and pull back to let our car glide through.  

"You've saved us", I hear shouted out as we pass by, "Hallelujah!"

We head on into the heart of the city.  Right under 'their' noses.   Jay is protected by the people who love him.  And 'they' can do nothing.  What a day! John 12

* Zechariah 9:9 Do not be afraid daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.

PRAYER: What you are doing for us is exciting.

Twentieth Day of Lent - Vigilance

Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau
National Gallery, London

 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’  Then all those bridesmaids arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’  But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 25

This living business is not to be taken too lightly.  There are responsibilities.  We are a part of something wonderful, serious and exciting.  The Bridegroom is coming and we have a role.  This is one occasion when we must be ready, and play our part.  Others depend on it.  If you arrive at a play without a ticket, do you expect to be let in?  If you arrive at a border without a visa, are you going to be allowed to cross over?  No one can provide their visa instead.

PRAYER:  Help me to be be ready always.

Nineteenth Day of Lent - Interest

 

The Chess Game by Sofonisba Angussiola
Museo Narodowe, Poznan (Poland)

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

Jesus is interested in all people, no matter what other people might think.  We too can be interested in everyone we come to meet in a daily lives.  Why not?  In that moment I am interested in them.  What do they value?  What excites them? What brings them joy?

I chose Sofonisba's painting today because it always interests me.  It is a rich story, and we all have a rich story to tell.  

PRAYER:  May I see people around me just as you do.

An Injection of Light relief or Piling on the Pressure

I’m walking towards a clinic in the Leicester Royal Infirmary. 

I’m early, having dropped Liz off at the station to catch her train to London.

Could I save time by asking if my name be inserted higher up the que?

I make a mental stab at a proposal.

“I know I’m at the bottom, but would you be able to push me up…?”

That won’t do.  Need’s something more assertive. 

“Not wishing to cut in…”   No, too sharp and to the point.

“Sorry to interject…”  My thoughts jabber on.

When I arrive there is no one else there.  I see the doctor straightway, and he tells me that they don’t do injections anymore.  It’s back to the bands. 

Tight cheeked, I leave whistling a high-pitched tune.

Eighteenth Day of Lent - Caution

Caution to the Wind,
by Graham McKean, MacGregor Fine Art

“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 15

"Walk circumspectly" - how do you do that?  My answer is to be like a little child who looks to their trusted parent to indicate how to approach situations.  If my parent seems secure, I feel safe.  If they proceed with caution, I do too.  We have the Maker of all things to walk by our side through thick and thin.  We are never alone.

PRAYER: All is not secure around me, but with you, I can go through anything.