As we come to the second Sunday in Lent our texts this week centre on the very Lenten theme of the promise and the cost of faith. Abraham receives a covenant-a promise-that will utterly transform his life and that of his wife, family and descendants. The transformation is so radical that it even changes their names. The promise is huge-that from him and Sarai there will be numberless descendants. And the promise made to them by God is everlasting, unending.

Yet as we reflect on this in this Lenten period that is of necessity shaped by world events, how do we view this? What we need to see is the promise of God that is everlasting and the faithful response from Abraham, and this is the theme that links the texts.

The letter to the Romans emphasises Abraham’s faith which is counted as righteousness. It is not the obeying of the law that has done this, even though that in itself served a purpose, but that purpose has been fulfilled in the divine person of Jesus Christ.

The promise of God reaches its fulfilment in Jesus, but Jesus himself makes it very clear that following him is costly. His message in Mark is clear and uncompromising. Peter, in his enthusiasm and his love of his friend and leader, does his usual thing and leaps in to promise that what Jesus has prophesied will not happen, earning. the sharp rebuke ‘get behind me Satan’. This seems excessive perhaps but Jesus here is focused on what must come, the reason he incarnated at that time and in that place. He warns that those who seek an easier way of life, those who may be sympathetic to him but cannot-or will not-make the sacrifices to truly serve him will lose everything, whilst in a customarily Christ-style paradox, those who have given up everything for him will gain everything. Once again, the eternal promises of God are given, this time through God’s Son-Jesus. 

The text from Mark is a firm reminder that Jesus had a purpose-a divine one- and that when needed he was firm. He was still the manifestation of Godly love, but this is tempered with a developed sense of divine purpose that also links in with his humanity and all its complexities. He is firm, he is challenging, he rebukes, but all is done out of love, a love of God and humanity that wants to see the chain of divine promise that started with the covenant between Abraham and God continue into this new covenant that expands the realm of God’s people to include everyone, unlimited by race, geography, gender or any other social construct. An unlimited love which is the very definition of God.

The services and activities for the week ahead.

Sunday 25th February 2024 

 Lent 2  

8.00 am           Holy Communion – All Saints 

10.00 am          Sung Holy Communion – St Mary’s 

10.30 am          Cafe Church – All Saints  

THE WEEK AHEAD 

Monday 26th               8.00 pm   Celtic Evening Prayer – All Saints 

Tuesday 27th               10.30 am  Music for Toddlers – St Mary’s 

Wednesday 28th        9.00 am  Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

2.00 pm  Lent Group – St Mary’s (Parish Room) 

7:30 pm   Lent Group – All Saints (Link Room) 

Thursday 29th             10.00 am   Eucharist – St Mary’s 

Saturday 2nd March    12.00-2.00 pm Saturday Lunches – St Mary’s

Sunday 3rd March       10.00 am Creative Church  – “Lent” – St Mary’s

10.30 am Holy Communion with Band and Junior Church – All Saints 

6:30 pm Sung Evensong – St Mary’s 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen

Blessings

Rev’d Kester de Oliveira