A little belatedly, I’m starting my lent series. I’m going to be following the daily lectionary readings, rather than the Sunday ones I normally cover, and reflecting on them here. I shall also use the titles used in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, because they seem helpful for the Lenten journey.
Just for today I am going to use the set Psalm, whilst Paul begins to wrap up his final farewells in Romans.
(A song for worship.)
Celebrating the Harvest
126 It seemed like a dream
when the Lord brought us back
to the city of Zion.
2 We celebrated with laughter
and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
“The Lord has worked miracles
for his people.”
3 And so we celebrated
because the Lord had indeed
worked miracles for us.
4 Our Lord, we ask you to bless
our people again,
and let us be like streams
in the Southern Desert.
5 We cried as we went out
to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate
as we bring in the crops.
6 We cried on the way
to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout
as we bring in the crops.
At first glimpse, this seems an odd song for the beginning of Lent, it’s a song more of returning than of going into the desert, a song of praise and celebration than of sorrow; but perhaps it is the glimpse of hope we need.
And perhaps a significant part is in those who cry as they plant their seeds.
Tears of sorrow,
tears of frustration,
tears of pain,
tears of anger,
tears of desertion
Lord,
let my tears flow,
as a realisation,
a cleansing,
a sorrow.
Perhaps
as I enter Lent,
a wilderness,
time alone with you,
I can weep
for how far I am,
how dry and parched my life,
how in need of life
and refreshment.
In tears of honesty,
of acknowledgement,
of healing
May I find
life,
hope,
strength,
joy
and peace
in and through you
that I may return
knowing,
loving,
celebrating,
living
as you,
and only you
bring me back
And then
I will be equipped to sow
for you
