I’ve accepted the challenge to read Mark’s gospel this Lent. I had initially responded to a challenge on someone’s Facebook post and they provided a chart to complete this in chunks over the 6 weeks. However when I read the Live Lent email this morning I saw that they suggest reading the whole of Mark’s gospel in a week.
| Mission is finding out what God is doing, and joining in. This quote, which is often attributed to Archbishop Rowan Williams, reminds us that whenever we think about mission, evangelism, or witnessing to our faith, God is already ahead of us. God is a missionary God, always reaching out in love to the whole creation. Jesus talked about this in stories. |
| Action for the week – This week, take time to read one of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark or Luke) and reflect on the love that Jesus shows there. You might like to use a journal or notebook to record your observations. |
Today I have read the first 3 chapters and started a picture. It isn’t quite finished but the main things are in place.
What struck me is how Mark sets out straight away that Jesus is God’s son, the Messiah. His echoes of Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Elijah in the words and actions of John the Baptiser – the last of the old testament prophets – call us to respond. Jesus is baptised, in solidarity with us.
“Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God. He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ had no sin. But God made him become sin.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Through our baptism – the outward sign of our inward spiritual re-birth – we become one with Jesus, we become part of his family, if we are obedient to God’s will. This Lent I am encouraged, once more, to undergo the testing of spiritual disciplines of fasting, giving and prayer knowing that to do so strengthens me. And I hope it enables more of the Holy Spirit to work within and through me.
I hope that your Lent has got off to a good start. God bless you, whatever your spiritual disciplines you’ve chosen to follow. May you know God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth Jones' Diary 