The Collect: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save: through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection: We can each recall difficult and challenging times in our lives, times when there is great turmoil and confusion, things are just not going right in a major way, and we are not sure what to do, where to go or how to solve the problem. We are human, so we worry and we despair because we cannot see a credible end or solution in sight. It could be a situation relating to our debts, the loss or illness of a loved one and its impact on our survival, unwelcomed news about our health, or it may even be challenges in understanding and continuing on our journey of faith. At times like these, even though we pray, we feel alone in the wilderness of confusion and pain, as we struggle to make sense of the bad situation.
On the other hand, we can also recall a time or times when we have wrestled with our problems for quite some time, and then just when we are at breaking point, at our wits end to find a solution, God our heavenly Father intervenes in the nick of time, and provides a solution that blows our mind because of how simple and perfect that solution is. We thank Him for resolving the issue even while we inwardly we feel perfectly stupid. ‘Why did we not see and think about that solution?’ we ask ourselves. But He has our backs!. He knows what is good for us and He never fails to protect and guide us. So, we humbly acknowledge His greatness and renew our assurance of His grace and mercy.
The words of today’s Collect ‘He is mighty to save’ reminds us that there is no problem too big for God to solve, no situation from which we cannot be rescued. He loves us, He has our back and is always there for us. But, my friends, as with any relationship, for it to grow and thrive there must be constant and open communication. There is the human tendency to go it alone, to think and feel that we can manage until we are stopped, and challenged by a difficult situation. Then, and only then, are we reminded that He is in charge.
In this Lenten season, let us engage the Lenten disciplines to intentionally connect and reconnect in a deeper way with The Almighty, our Creator, the one true God who has our backs.
Meditation: Great is Your mercy towards me, day after day.
Prayer: You, Lord, are our great and mighty defender. We thank You for always being there for us and for often protecting us from ourselves. We continue to worship and praise You, Lord. Amen.
The St. Jude’s Writers
St. Jude’s Church
Stony Hill
Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
21 February 2021
