Cyber Gleanings, March, 2006:

Dear People of St. John’s,    

“How much longer?”  That was the favorite question from daughter Michele anytime we headed away from home on a trip.  It didn’t matter how far the journey was to be, whether long or short, the question was always asked.  Shirley was particularly happy when Michele learned to tell time.  She would say, “When the short, wide hand gets to the four and the tall, narrow hand gets to the twelve we should be there.”  I was always a little amazed how well that worked.  Of course, there are people who do not like traveling for long distances in a car and I suspect Michele was not the first, nor will she be the last, to wonder, “How much longer?”    

We will have entered Lent 2006 by the time this arrives in your mailbox.  Some folks may already be asking, “How much longer?”  How much longer until we get our “alleluia” back?  How much longer until we can have the pretty flowers on the altar again?  How much longer until we get to sing the “Gloria?”      

The answer, of course, is that this trip will take 40 days.  The leader on this journey is the one we know as Jesus the Christ.  If we are to follow where he leads this Lent, then we, too, will be going through towns and villages and will make occasional stops as he teaches, heals, and preaches.  We must never forget that the destination for this 40-day trip is Jerusalem.  We may not wish to go and many will take a detour and not show up again until Easter morning.  Those may well be the ones who wonder what all the joy and rejoicing is all about.  It will again be the faithful ones who travel with Jesus who will understand the reason behind the question asked by the disciples who are struggling to keep up, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”  The answer has to do with striving.  Strive to enter, he says to all who will hear.  Those who give up, those who just stop walking, those who take a detour have missed the whole point of the journey.  The journey is about striving, it is about trying to be faithful, and it is about making spiritual progress, and leaving spiritual perfection to the Lord, who alone can grant it.    

We travel with others.  Part of what we are asked to do is be supportive along the way.  We can reach out to others, lend the helping hand, share the burdens, and the resources.  We will be known not so much by the company we keep along the way, but by the love we show.  If we have strived to walk with him, listening as best we can while he teaches, going with him from town to town, and not shying away because we know he is headed to Jerusalem then we have been assured that he will recognize us as a pilgrim. 

I pray that the Lord of this life and the life that is to come will recognize everyone.  We have heard his words of invitation, “Follow me,” and we are loved enough to be allowed to use our free will in responding.  I believe with all my heart that the Lord prays for us that we not fall away, not take the detour, or become distracted by the seductiveness of the world.  I believe with all my heart that the Lord prays that we accept his invitation.

It is to those who accept the striving and straining of discipleship that the journey makes sense.  To such as those the trip will not seem overly long and the question, “How much longer?” will not have to be asked.  So, “How much longer?”  I pray it will be just long enough. 

                                                                      Peace,

                                                                         Tom