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Pastor Paul: Each quarantine concludes with a blessing

Continuing with the 40 days theme (“Quarantine”), remember how the biblical 40 day journeys concluded, each with a sense of renewal: Noah and the dry land punctuated by a rainbow; Moses delivering his people an affirmation from God and a guide to community; for the Israelites, the “promised land;” for Elijah, a mission; and with Jesus, his proclamation in the Temple, echoing Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he was anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to set the captive free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Each quarantine concludes with a blessing from God, and in that the realization that God has accompanied us all along. In Lent, we also see the tears of Jesus falling upon us in our suffering, all the way to the cross of Good Friday…but then the Alleluia of Easter!

In our tears of this moment, let us tune our ears to the alleluia.

Pastor Paul

Pastor Paul: Drawing closer to God in Lent

In these days of “sheltering in place” and “social distancing” let us remember that we are people who “self-quarantine” in this season of Lent.  These are the 40 (quarantine) days when people intentionally enter into a different way of being so as to better orient their lives toward God and neighbor.  How fitting, that we find ourselves living with our neighbors pre-eminently in mind, as we keep them in mind every time we wash our hands and stay away from crowds.  These is something in this discipline that draws us closer to God, as many appreciate all the more the things we take for granted, and we celebrate the gift of community in new and creative ways, as we look to God for healing and hope.

Consider, if you will, the biblical references to the 40’s on the journeys of God’s people:  Noah and his family, 40 days/nights on an ark; Moses spent 40 days/nights on Mt. Sinai (on the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering the wilderness); Elijah walked for 40 days to Mt. Horeb; Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days/nights following his baptism. It turns out we are a quarantined people, not to separate ourselves from the world, but to immerse ourselves more deeply in it, including the times of fracture and fear, but to know that we are not alone, but rather accompanied by God. 

Pastor Paul