Lenten Reflection for March 25th

The Indigenous nation that I am a part of, the Nisga’a, traditionally had very stringent rules when it came to taking care of their property and land. Many times, each family was given a tract of land on which to build their house, have a place for plants and animals, and the land would extend out into the water in front of their house for fishing and harvesting shellfish, clams and mussels from the rivers and ocean.

The traditional rules were that each person takes care of their own property. They were required to maintain the upkeep of their house, to keep weeds out of the gardens and keep animals in check. To not over hunt, over fish or over harvest but also to not under hunt, fish or harvest as that too could upset the balance of surrounding nature that supported their lives and could cause issues for the neighbours who lived on either side.

If anyone were shown to be irresponsible, they would be spoken to by the councils and villagers, to encourage them to act with discipline in how they cared for the property given to them. Lands and resources are seen as a gift, something entrusted to us to care for as best we can in order to help each other and future generations.

In the first book of Samuel we read, “Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24) Through the Gift of Wonder and Awe, we can better acknowledge how everything we have is a gift from the Lord. He wants us to multiply these gifts and take care of them, doing so shows reverence for God as well as respecting His many blessings to us and not taking anything for granted.

Let our prayer of thanks be as the Psalmist wrote, Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and do not forget all his benefits—

 who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

 who redeems your life from the Pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

 who satisfies you with good as long as you live

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.(Psalm 103:2-5)

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

The Indigenous nation that I am a part of, the Nisga’a, traditionally had very strict rules when it came to taking care of the land around their home. Families were given a section of land on which to build their house, to have a place for growing plants and raising animals, and the land would extend into the water in front of their house for fishing and harvesting shellfish, clams and mussels from the rivers and ocean.

The rules were that each person takes care of their own property. They kept their house in good condition and tidy, kept weeds out of the gardens and made sure their animals were well taken care of. They were not to hunt, fish or harvest more than they needed, but also made sure they hunted, fished or harvested just enough, as not doing those things too could upset the balance of surrounding nature that supported their lives and could cause issues for their neighbours.

In the Bible, we are encouraged to “...honour the Lord. You must always serve him with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he did for you!” (1 Samuel 12:24) The Holy Spirit’s Gift of Wonder and Awe can help us to see and appreciate everything we have as a blessing from God, we learn to take care of what He gives to us because we love and revere our Heavenly Father and want to have respect for what we receive from Him.

Let’s pray that we can see God’s blessings we have in each day and remember to give Him thanks for it all!

God bless you!

Lenten Reflection for March 24th

Hello friends, 

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most holy days leading to Easter. This week is filled with highs and lows of emotions in the Scripture readings and the services we participate in.

Today, on Palm Sunday, we commemorate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when he was welcomed by crowds of people holding palm branches and who spread their cloaks on the ground before him, an action reserved only for those who were held in the highest respect in the community.

Jerusalem itself was the place of the Temple where so many of the ancient kings of Israel offered sacrifice to God.  Every year for decades and centuries the high priest entered the Temple to offer sacrifices.  This time however, as Jesus entered Jerusalem, though the people didn’t realise it at the time, the entire city of Jerusalem became the new Temple with Jesus as the final High Priest.  As we know, He was greeted with joyful shouts of “Hosanna!” but later this would change to shouts of “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

We have the blessing of the benefit of knowing the full story of Christ’s Passion, death and resurrection, as we reflect on these events this week, let’s make sure to enter further into prayer, preparing our hearts more intently during this upcoming Holy week.

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and it’s the beginning of what is known as Holy Week in the Church. This week will bring up a lot of different emotions and it might feel confusing. Today we celebrate in joy, remembering when Jesus entered Jerusalem and was greeted by crowds of people waving palms and laying their coats on the path in front of him, acknowledging Jesus as a Kingly figure. But as the week goes on we will also hear about Jesus teaching us how to be humble and serve others, how Jesus is betrayed by one of his friends and dies on the cross.

Today, as we celebrate, we may feel like we want to rush past the sad parts of this week, hurrying forward into celebrating Easter. However, it is important that we have time this week to learn about, reflect and pray about the sacrifice Jesus made for us all when he died on the cross to free us from our sins, the wrong things we do in life.

Taking some time to think and talk about these events will help us to appreciate the Love Jesus shows us even more when we do finally enter the Easter Season!

God bless you!

Lenten Reflection for March 23rd

There’s allegedly a story about a woman’s encounter with Pablo Picasso that goes, ‘there was a show in France of Picasso's paintings which were exhibited chronologically. One day Picasso was looking at the exhibit and a woman was talking to him. She mentioned that the earlier pictures were organised, staid and perfect.  The later pictures were careless and wild as though they ought to be displayed in the opposite order. And Picasso said to her "Madam, but you don't understand. It takes a long time to become young."’

There are many times when I take notice of something in nature or creation around me that fascinates me, makes me smile or laugh, or at times bewilders me.  I have to wonder though, despite the joy it brings me, when did I grow up so much that I don't appreciate those happenings as much? When was the last time I noticed these moments and events and saw them with a childlike wonder, gifts from the Lord to make me aware of His presence and blessings? Not as often as I should, that’s for certain! 

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about how we are allotted a certain amount of time in life, how the Lord has ordained our days. He says, “Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7) Our Heavenly Father wants us to experience joy in life and I can see Joy as being one of the Fruits that stems from the Holy Spirit’s Gift of Wonder and Awe when we are able to take the time to pause and acknowledge God’s presence all around us in each day of our lives. 

If we pray for an increase of this Gift of Wonder and Awe, we will find our eyes are more open to how God shows us how near He really is to us and through this awareness, experience wondrous Joy blossoming in our heart.

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Have you ever had a moment when you see something in nature that makes you laugh, perhaps an animal doing something funny? Or have you ever looked up at a clear night sky and marveled at how big it is and how many stars are shining? Or looked at how a plant grows and wondered how on earth it’s able to thrive in the ground?

Sometimes as we grow older, the sense of wonder in these things we see starts to fade, we don’t really think about them much. But what if these funny animals, the way that plants grow, the awe we feel when looking at the starry sky aren’t merely plain, boring everyday happenings? What if it is God gifting us these moments to let us know He is always near?

We may not think much about it, but we all have a set amount of time to live, and our Heavenly Father wants us to experience joy in life! Perhaps this is why we do take more notice of the animals or nature, or remember good times in our lives so fondly. 

The Holy Spirit’s Gift of Wonder and Awe can help us to have our eyes open to the joy filled moments God gives to us and to be thankful to Him when we receive them.

God bless you!