It is perhaps an understatement that we live in “interesting” times. Of course, we’re told that is an old Chinese curse – it’s not – it’s just a slighter older English term. But you get the meaning. So much is happening. Times are changing. Global politics are shifting rapidly. But, at the same time, you might notice how the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and those at the bottom are getting trodden on by everybody. I know a few people who have closed down their social media accounts – too horrified to read the latest take from America or turned off the news appalled by the state of our own politics. We can easily shift inwards, into solitary confinement in “interesting times”.
But the Christian year has now shifted into Lent as it has every year for around the last two thousand years. A time to reflect on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, a time to fast in fellowship with him as we prepare for the Feast of Easter. A time to reflect with less stuff around us. Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, ‘Mardi Gras’ was about eating up all the fat in the larder – eating up the rich provisions to prepare us for the fast. A time of reflection, as Jesus showed us, to think about ourselves, our own resources, our reflections on God and power. The Bible tells the story in Matthew 4:1-11. At the end of the forty days, Satan took Jesus to the top of the highest point of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem and showed him all the kingdom’s of the world – “worship me and you can have all of this”. Jesus turned him down: “Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God, he is the only one you should serve.’”
It’s an interesting take on politics. Don’t crave power and wealth that the world offers but turn instead to the God who loves you.
The temptation in the desert is the prelude to Jesus’ ministry. He left the desert and began preaching a message of hope and equality to the people of Israel/Palestine living in territory occupied by the largest superpower in their world, Rome. He taught in the Beatitudes to love our neighbours, that humility was supreme, that those who hunger and thirst for what’s right, would gain their reward. A message of challenge to the powerful in terms of armed might, finance and land. In the end, Jesus was crucified on a cross for his challenge to the Roman powers. Christians believe three days later he rose again.
On Good Friday (April 18th), the local churches will hold a march through along High St, pausing to pray and sing at a number of places along the route. We’ll gather outside High St Methodist Church to sing praises to God before going inside where those marching (and anyone else) will be invited to pray for Maidenhead, for our council, for our leaders, for the poor and unwell, for the elderly, for those new to our town, for the peace of the Lord over our community. Please join us to end our fast and celebrate all the God can do to bring us to less interesting times.
Peter Phillips
Minister, High St Methodist Church and St Marks Crescent Methodist
Church