MOOSE JAW (Qu’A) — The crunch of boots on snow was about the only sound as a dozen people walked a trail carrying a wooden cross, with the hikers thoughtfully pondering some reflections during a Lenten retreat.
“Turn and follow … Jesus” was the theme for this year’s retreat, which 13 people from St. Aidan Anglican Church in Moose Jaw attended early in Lent.
The bundled-up group started at a home in Wakamow Valley and walked a trail about two kilometres long, before going uphill and concluding at another parishioner’s home for mid-day prayer and tea, coffee and cookies.
Onward Christian soldiers
Father Cal Macfarlane led the retreat, using four passages from the Gospel of Luke to reinforce the event’s theme of following Jesus. The readings occurred after Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, where He “gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem,” as The Message Bible put it.
The first reading was from Luke 9:51-60, where several people said they wanted to follow Jesus, but made excuses about why they couldn’t.
In response to one person, Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”
Afterward, Fr. Macfarlane told retreatants that as they reflected on how God’s Spirit was calling them to follow Jesus during Lent, they should consider several ideas.
Those ideas included what discomforts God might be inviting them into, what important things in their lives must they lay aside to faithfully follow Christ, and what areas of procrastination in their spiritual journeys did they need to reject so they could “seize the day.”
After each reading and reflection, a different retreatant took the cross and walked the trail, usually with his or her head down as they considered what they heard and how best they could respond — and to ensure they didn’t slip on the icy crust of snow.
Participant reflects
“The striking thing for me was the sensation the cross gave me — the feel of the wood, the vibration as it dragged on the ground, the sound it made — (as it) forced me to just focus on the next steps ahead, (while) there were no distractions,” said Stan Peters.
Continuing, he said the walk allowed him to contemplate the work Jesus did for people as He carried His cross and submitted to death to redeem everyone.
“The event was very tactile, yet created time to reflect on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross,” Peters added.
Putting the mind on God
The second reading was from Luke 13:22-30, where someone asked Jesus whether only a few people would be saved. In response, Jesus said it was none of the man’s business whether few or many would be saved.
“Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life — to God! — is vigorous and requires your total attention,” Jesus continued.
“A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighbourhood all your lives,” He continued. “Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’”
While the people protested that they knew the master, the master pointed out that the people didn’t know anything about him. Jesus noted that those people would find themselves in the cold and “strangers to grace,” who would watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets marching into God’s Kingdom first.
“You’ll (also) watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in — and wondering what happened,” Jesus continued.
“This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.”
Fr. Macfarlane then encouraged the retreatants to ask God’s Spirit to reveal to them how they have been “hanging around the neighbourhood,” and what, during the Lenten season, required their total attention.
Telling Jesus our needs
The third reading was from Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus healed 10 lepers and only one came back, “shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough — and he was a Samaritan.”
Jesus questioned where the other nine were and why only “this outsider” could be bothered to return to glorify God. Then He told the man to go, since his faith had saved and healed him.
“As we continue to journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, tell Jesus about the needs you have. Ask Him for healing and wholeness,” Macfarlane said. “Then also take time to reflect on all the ways God has already brought healing and wholeness to your life. Give Him thanks for these things.”
The ‘grand welcome’ in Jerusalem
The final reading was from Luke 19:28-36, where Jesus reached the Mount of Olives, and, after His disciples acquired a donkey, He rode into Jerusalem. Along the way, the people threw their coats on the ground and gave Him “a grand welcome” — basically, the Palm Sunday narrative.
The retreatants were encouraged to reflect on what their Master Jesus needed from them and what the “colt” was in their lives that they were being asked to give Him.
Fittingly, as the participants walked up the hill and the event ended, the sun broke through the clouds and fog, dispelling the gloominess and shining its rays across the land and into their hearts.
