Saturday, March 28, 2026

Juneau Tram

 

The end is in sight! There is still more to do until we reach the destination.

We are on the precipice of Holy Week, when our eyes turn to Jesus entering Jerusalem in a royal procession and the days before Passover. Passover, when Jesus broke bread and drank wine with the disciples and showed us the magnitude of his love for us in his desire to bring us closer to God. We are on 39th day of Lent. Has our reading of scripture, prayer, almsgiving and fasting (maybe not so much) prepared our hearts to be ready for God’s call to us.  

During this Lent, I have felt the invitation to be closer to God. The invitation is both challenging in what I must do to be ready and how it will feel when I reach my destination. 

Ezekiel’s reading reminds me of a family reunion in that I just need to show up, the work has been done for me. God has brought us back into the land where he reigns. Ezekiel 37: 23 “I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them.  They will be my people, and I will be their God.” The reassurance that is stated, “I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.” God has done all the work, and we need to show up to follow God’s law and decrees.  One thing is clear; God waits for us to make a choice to follow Him. Like a family reunion where a few people do the organizing and we show up to enjoy the benefits of someone else’s planning, God has the plan in place we need to choose to step into that plan.    

Psalm 121 reminds us to look up to where our help comes from, our lord Creator.  When you are seeking answers how often do you look up expecting a reply.  When you are climbing up a hill or walking, God watches over you all the time because He is constantly watching over his creation. How comforting is it to know God does not rest as He watches over us, even in the sunniest times or the darkest moments?  God is aware of our comings and goings.  Are we aware of his presence in those times? 

During Lent and Advent, I find myself more conscious of praying and seeking answers to what God wants me to do in this world. I pray that you will sense God’s presence in your lives and know the incomparable Love he has for all creation.

These first two reading were ever hopeful. Immediately, following the Chief Priest plot to secure their position in Roman society in this gospel story. While all the people gathered around and celebrated the miracles and love Jesus poured out for them, behind it all you had the chief priests deliberating how to rid their world of the threat to their way of life.  

When I read that Caiphas had prophesized that Jesus would die, I wonder if it was God’s prophecy or Caiphas’s own? This makes me question if I put my own expectations into how God will answer prayer to carry out his will in the world. 

This prophecy must have been publicly proclaimed as Jesus restricted his movements and stayed with his disciples. Has Lent been our own wilderness preparing for His coming? Jesus went into the wilderness for his ceremonial cleansing before facing the cross.  

Like a road trip when you get close to your destination both relief and weariness seep into your being. Are we ready for the end of the journey or is it only the beginning of future travels?

May this Lent continue to prepare us to continually draw closer to Jesus and follow the example of Christ’s love for the world.  Looking forward to coming out of the wilderness to celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice for humankind.

Greg Young

As we travel on the road, we are with our brothers and sisters.

He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother   The Hollies

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