Pastor's Corner“ A Long Walk with Jesus”

Epiphany is now behind us, the season celebrating the revelation who Jesus is: “The radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3), sent by the Father into the world to rescue all people out of sin, darkness, and death into holiness, light, and life. Although we didn’t explore it fully last week, Transfiguration Sunday was a culminating moment of this revelation, and we’re invited to join Peter, James, and John in becoming fully awake to the true Jesus (Luke 9:32).

Jesus consistently invited these three disciples to walk with him in unique ways, and each time they were given an even clearer vision of who he is. The Transfiguration of Jesus literally shines as the brightest of these visions (Luke 9:28-35:1-9). The biblical context of this event fits well within the liturgical flow from Epiphany to Lent.

Just days before this moment Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, and Jesus begins teaching the disciples that this truth will require his suffering and death (Luke 9:18-27). Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah are discussing with the transfigured Jesus his impending crucifixion (Luke 9:30-31). And when Jesus walks down the mountain with his three disciples, he is heading down the road to Jerusalem. The Transfiguration is the Scriptural bridge from the brightness of the Epiphany into the Lenten journey to the Cross.

During Lent, Jesus is inviting you to walk with him, that you may see more clearly who he truly is, and our deep need for him – a revelation that comes to fullness in the light of his death and resurrection. The prologue to Lent is bright: the celebration of the Transfiguration on Sunday, and the feasting on pancakes and fellowship at Tuesday’s Pancake Supper. Lent began the following day, Ash Wednesday, with the Imposition of Ashes offered at our Ash Wednesday services. At those services, we were invited “to the observance of a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and alms-giving; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (p. 544, BCP 2019).

Please be sure to get a copy of Immanuel’s Lenten Guide, “A Long Walk with Jesus.” This guide offers a variety of ways to walk with Jesus each week. I encourage you to read through these disciplines ahead of time, prayerfully decide which practices you will observe, then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his power and grace “that you may faithfully keep this Lent” (BCP 2019).

Using this guide together will enable us to walk with Jesus this Lent as a church family. In earlier times, Lent was a discipline taken on by an entire community, people supporting each other in engaging these “rhythms of grace.” This can become another experience of koinonia – a communing with each other and our Trinitarian God that results in transformation and joy (1 John 1:1-4).

Among our shared Lenten disciplines is the invitation to participate in our annual Baby Bottle Campaign that supports our ministry partner Life First. During the announcements we’ll watch a brief video, then hear from Kirk Gillespie as she brings gratitude and stories from Life First. She will be available after both services to talk with you further.

I pray that this Lent will be a turning point in all our lives, as we turn from the other voices that disturb, distract, and tempt us, to walk together with Jesus and listen to his voice.

Your Pastor in Christ,