Pastor’s Perspective

from the March Newsletter 2022

Epiphany. Transfiguration. Lent. These are the big three liturgical events between Christmas and Easter. Epiphany is a time when we open our eyes, ears, and hearts to see if we notice some particular insight or revelation from God about faith and life. On transfiguration Sunday we pause on the mountain top, breathe in the high altitude oxygen and absorb the holy spiritual experience of the gathering of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But, as much as Peter wanted to, we can’t stay on the summit reveling in the holiness. Jesus Himself made the disciples go back down the mountain for the journey to Jerusalem.

Did you realize how much of Jesus’ ministry occupies that journey? Over half of Luke’s gospel, for instance, takes place between Transfiguration and the events in Jerusalem. For us, that time of journey falls in the season of Lent and it’s a time for us to think about what we’ve learned about Jesus and form Jesus. Different people do different things for Lent. Some give up a thing or a practice. Others take on a thing like devotional study or a particular service to others. Some people like to keep a journal of their Lenten journey with thoughts and reflections.

During Lent, our prayer podcast prayers will derive from a little book called: The Ignatioan Workout for Lent. Each day will have a scripture and then a prayer reflection. I hope, beginning with Ash Wednesday, that this season will be spiritually significant to you.

Allen Cross, Minister of FPC of Big Spring TX