News from the Pews

Running away into the wilderness

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yes, we are now fully in the middle of summer, my favourite time of the year. This is the time when many of us go on holiday for a well-deserved rest. A time when everything is bright and beautiful. A time of many sunny days and BBQs with friends and family but of course some unwelcome rainy days but much needed nature's blessing and gift of God to us.

Over the next few weeks our lectionary readings will be focusing on the proclamation of the gospel - the good news, on finding out who our neighbours are and how to care for them, on developing our trust and faith in God through our spiritual relationship with Him and wisdom to discern what is important in life.

As Jesus prepares His Disciples to continue his mission in the world and to meet the problems and stresses of the world, the readings take us through a time of self-reflection. We are called to moments of detachment that we may behold God's glory ‑ to times of prayer and worship, to quiet days and retreats. And at this time of the year, to a time when we have a break from everyday life, a time for thought and vision, a time when we may have more time for prayers and meditation. It is also a time for us to reflect on God's glory as creator of the world, to reflect on the work of Christ bringing salvation and revealing God's glory and on the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, in the Church and in the world…

However, even at this time of the year many of us may be going through a period of despair and a challenging time in our lives when everything seems to be going wrong. In this situation we might readily identify with Elijah as he fled for his life into the wilderness. Elijah had won a great victory over the prophets of Baal,but even with this display of the power of God he was intimidated by Jezebel. His terror was such that he even asked that he might die, as he sat alone in the bush and fell asleep. He presents a picture of complete desolation and hopelessness. Then an angel woke him and told him to get up and eat of the provisions that were laid before him. He did so but then he lay down again. The angel came a second time, touched him and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”

The fact that the angel came a second time to Elijah with more or less the same message is very significant. It reminds me of the part of the Spiritual Exercises of S. Ignatius which is called Repetition. This is where you go back to the same Scripture passage or reflection two and even three times, before you move on. The purpose of this is so that you may reach greater depth. This is where the spiritual food that sustains and keeps us going is likely to be found.

In the midst of his despair Elijah experiences the providence of God, indeed he finds consolation. So, it is important to know that desolation is not a sign of failure, indeed it is much more a sign of spiritual growth.

We might not run away into the wilderness in a physical sense but there are many ways to withdraw emotionally and spiritually without even leaving home. When we find ourselves in the bush alone, we need to do the opposite of what we feel like doing. We might feel like telling the angel to get lost and want to go further out into the wilderness. Instead, we need to look around for the provision that God has made through his Word and Sacraments and join in the worship and prayers of the Church even more. This is the unseen GRACE OF GOD that is constantly moving, flowing and creating. It is a free gift from God that is available to those with open hands to receive it.

Jesus, our companion, when we are driven to despair, helps us, through the friends and strangers we encounter on our path, to know you as our refuge, our way, our truth and our life. Amen.

God’s blessing and Grace always

Reverend Olasupo Ogunyinka.