A Reflection for the second week of Lent by Fr. Gareth Ingham
Have you ever held a secret? A secret that those all around are unaware of. There may be one or two people who have questioned you or held a suspicion that something is up; but no one truly knows what is being carried secretly by another.
All can seem tranquil until the moment the secret is out. It can suddenly change everything around, like a large rock being thrown into a pool of water. One moment calm, next moment a big curphlumph!! …causing waves and ripples to go off in every direction.
Hearing the words of Jesus in this week’s Gospel reading is just like a large rock being thrown into that tranquil pool. They must have come as a great shock to his disciples, who kind of knew who he was but still didn’t quite get it.
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. (Mark 8:31)
Peter voiced the shock and concern of them all, to the point of rebuking Jesus for his daft ideas. Then we hear Jesus respond with those awful words,
‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
The truth of Jesus is shocking to hear, it was shocking for Peter and the other disciples. Why would everyone reject Jesus, to the point of his death? And why would Jesus, the special one, allow himself to be rejected and killed? Well Peter was reminded quite bluntly of the bigger picture, a reality that is often beyond our human reality and experience.
Unlike the disciples reeling with the ripples of shock, we know how the story will end. Lent is our time to dwell on the shocking reality of Jesus. That our Saviour came not as a comic book superhero with magic powers, Lazer eyes, or immense strength to take over the world by force. But he came amongst us with great humility, love, and compassion.
God truly knows us and knows the secrets we carry in our hearts. He encourages us each day to follow him, to lay aside our lives of selfish wants and desires, and to walk with him in the way of the cross. All in a spirit of faith, to die with him and on the third day rise again.
Fr. Gareth Ingham
Priest in Charge – The Benefice of CRIFTINS with DUDLESTON and WELSH FRANKTON
and The Benefice of PETTON with COCKSHUTT, WELSHAMPTON, and LYNEAL with COLEMERE.