Category: Preparation for Lent

Today I need to confirm the readings and let our worship team know where I’m going, so I now have to commit. Here’s what I sent them:

Isaiah 58:6-7 and Mark 9:2-7 (I’ve shorn off Mk 9:8-9 because I want to leave God’s words clear at the end of the reading).

And for the worship leaders…

Hi Carl, Paul
At the moment I’m thinking like this:
Isaiah 58 is almost always read at the start of Lent – its significance is undeniable, so it will form the cornerstone of what I have to say.
The second reading varies; I like to think of it as a lens to view Isaiah through.
“This is my son… listen to him”. And what does he say?
So I’m looking at a Matthew 6 kind of fasting – facing outward, not self-centred, us and we, not I me mine.
I’m seeing an outward-looking generosity, and outward-looking Lord’s Prayer, an idea of self-denial that requires the other side of the coin to be “What you did for the least of these…”
And I’m looking at Christ at the centre, glorious and divine, ultimate… yet intimate.
Bless you
Jon

I’ve made some scribbles on my tablet as I’ve been out and about. Just catching ideas when they strike me.

Not being self-centred so facing outward.

No ostentation so being humble.

Also going from mountaintop experience in Mk 9 to “help me in my unbelief”. It’s tempting to be inward focussed when we are down.

Parallelism and connecting fasting/self-denial to generosity and consideration.

Two sides to everything and seeing the other side.

7 sermons over the last 11 years, and Is 58 is a constant feature. The second reading has varied enormously and often throws a particular light on Isaiah 58.

Two weeks ago – Lords Prayer, intimate and ultimate. Yet Christ encourages us to a solitary prayer which has no I, me or mine in it. It is an outward-facing prayer, never self-centred; a prayer for our community, for humanity.

Today, a mountaintop experience, perhaps mirroring Moses on the mountain. But Moses, having met God face to face, came down to the golden calf, a bitter low-point. After the transfiguration in Mk 9? The demon the disciples could not cast out. The father who said “I do believe. Help me in my unbelief!” Maybe the epitome of heartfelt prayer. In our mountaintop experiences we may see God in all his glory, yet at our bitter low points he is there as our father, gathering up his skirts to run to usher us home.

And we draw on our recent study of Mt 6 – our response is not self-centred; not ostentatious; we are called to be generous, to pray and to fast quietly and humbly: to bless others and call down God’s blessing on others while denying ourselves.

It’s not about me, it’s all about you, Lord.

What a few days – lots of grandpa duties, and a little cherub covered in very itchy chickenpox.

So where have I wandered in my preparation?

It was interesting to see how the Isaiah passage (Isaiah 58:6-7) indicates that God wants to see us turning outwards, towards others. This reflects the same message as I found last week with prayer – we cannot see fasting (Lent) as a self-centred self-denial: it depends upon us concentrating on others, not ourselves. Very Matthew 6.

 

Today I’m picking up my preparation for next Sunday’s sermons. I’ve had the readings in my mind for a few days, and I’ve skimmed through the old sermons. Then just left things alone for a while.

Today I’m starting looking around a bit more. I’ve read the whole chapters of Isaiah 58 and of Mark 9. I picked up “Say to this mountain” by Ched Myers and others, and read the chapter about Mark 9. Then gone back to the introduction to orientate myself better. Made some notes on the Intro; made some more about Chapter 9. I’ll post the notes soon.