March 2022 PASSION

 

As you read this, Lent will have just begun. 40 days (actually, 46 days including Sundays which traditionally are not considered fasting days) lie before us as an opportunity to take a closer look at our relationship with Jesus and how it affects our personal lives, our involvement in our community, and in global issues. COVID is still here. There is a war raging in Ukraine. Refugees from all over the world are coming to the U.S. And scientists, climate experts and the younger generations are reminding us of the serious threat climate change poses to life on this planet. That's a lot of heavy material. Sometimes we just have to stop looking at the news or we will get overwhelmed and depressed. But we also don't want to pretend these things are not happening, just because they may not affect us personally (yet). I found this photo as I was looking for visuals for worship last week:

Photo credit: Ian Schneider @goian

It shows the feet of two people standing close together. Are they friends, a couple, parent and child? What might they be doing? Praying? Admiring artwork or an architectural structure? Maybe they're singing, attending a concert, or protesting? To me, the image exudes peace and passion. Passion led them here. Passion for each other, for whatever it is they might be looking at or listening to, or for a cause they care about. It was passion that made it possible for members of Trinity and the wider community to form a Neighborhood Support Team and welcome Rose and Mark to Northborough. It's passion that leads the Social Justice Team to keep us educated and talking about current issues. It's passion that makes members of the ONA Team plan events and projects to help us as a church become more inclusive and welcoming. It's passion that inspired a new member to bring back the food pantry bags. It's passion that keeps us actively supporting Worcester Fellowship and Community Meals. It's passion that encourages Sherry and the CE Team to discover new ideas about how to connect to our families. And it's my passion to keep preaching, talking and writing about matters of faith, justice and peace. The word "passion" not only refers to a strong emotion and dedication that individuals may feel. It also refers to the suffering of Jesus Christ during his arrest, trial and crucifixion. That's what "passion" in Latin literally means: to suffer. In Germany we call Lent "Passionszeit." The time of passion. (Interestingly, German Catholics call it "Fastenzeit." The time of fasting.) The word "passion" expresses that love and suffering go hand in hand. If we love our neighbor as God repeatedly calls us to and as Jesus has shown us, we will inevitably suffer. We will suffer because we will feel their pain ("compassion" literally means "to suffer with"), we will suffer when we realize the extent of injustice in our nation, we suffer when we hear about the number of children who are living below the poverty line. We suffer when we sacrifice some of our time and money to support them, or any cause that we may feel passionate about. We suffer when we fail, or think we can't make a difference. We suffer when we get frustrated and worn out because systems change so slowly and reluctantly. That's what being a disciple of Jesus means: loving, and suffering. May His Passion, and our passion, bring us closer to God and closer to all of God's children and the life God intended for them. Wishing you a meaningful and blessed season of Lent! With Passion, Pastor Valeria.