REDEMPTION REFLECTION
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Just prior to Thanksgiving 2017, a dear professional friend of mine lost her husband very unexpectedly. We were heading to Virginia for Thanksgiving so my first stop on the trip was in Fredericksburg to express my condolences. A service was not yet planned. I told my friend to be sure to let me know the date of his memorial services so that I could attend. I heard nothing until December when an email arrived announcing that a Celebration for Don’s Life was planned for Saturday, December 16th in Richmond, Virginia. Now by that date and time we were in Mt. Airy, Maryland. My family jokingly said: “Gee Mom, if you go, you can probably get back to the Outer Banks from Richmond faster than you can travel back around DC to southern Maryland on the Saturday one week before Christmas!” I hemmed and stewed, and easily come up with excuses not to make the trip; but then I said: “OK, What would Jesus do?” The answer to that was easy! My sister who lives in Fredericksburg agreed to go with me (Thank you, Sis). It took me 2 hours plus just to get to Fredericksburg. Traffic was a nightmare, as usual on I-95, so it took almost as long to get to Richmond, then finding a parking place in downtown Richmond added to the frustration as all the parking garages had a sign posted to use the Parking App on my phone - easy for Millennials, but not so easy for a grandma from the World War II baby era! I finally found a parking place on the street only to discover that old-fashion coin parking meters are obsolete, and I had to find and then figure out how to use the block electronic parking meter that also challenged my very inept technology savvy! A walk in the wind and cold finally got us there; and of course, Don’s family and many old friends warmly received us.
So what does this story have to do with our Redemption theme for this Lenten Season? This past Sunday, (December 31) the Holy Gospel was from John 1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“ Father Tom’s meditation challenged us to reflect on “What was it like to give your word to someone?” Although my story about keeping my word is full of very trivial and humorous frustrations, it reflects the message that giving our word is easy and finding excuses not to keep our word is even easier. But let me finish my story. On Christmas morning, one of the very first Merry Christmas text messages that I got, was from my friend expressing to me how much all my love and support meant to her and her family. God gave us His Son and keeps His Word. When we keep our word, redemption can come in very small, but meaningful ways.
Sylvia Wadsworth
“Redemption, like a livelihood, must be earned each day.” (Midrash)
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Just prior to Thanksgiving 2017, a dear professional friend of mine lost her husband very unexpectedly. We were heading to Virginia for Thanksgiving so my first stop on the trip was in Fredericksburg to express my condolences. A service was not yet planned. I told my friend to be sure to let me know the date of his memorial services so that I could attend. I heard nothing until December when an email arrived announcing that a Celebration for Don’s Life was planned for Saturday, December 16th in Richmond, Virginia. Now by that date and time we were in Mt. Airy, Maryland. My family jokingly said: “Gee Mom, if you go, you can probably get back to the Outer Banks from Richmond faster than you can travel back around DC to southern Maryland on the Saturday one week before Christmas!” I hemmed and stewed, and easily come up with excuses not to make the trip; but then I said: “OK, What would Jesus do?” The answer to that was easy! My sister who lives in Fredericksburg agreed to go with me (Thank you, Sis). It took me 2 hours plus just to get to Fredericksburg. Traffic was a nightmare, as usual on I-95, so it took almost as long to get to Richmond, then finding a parking place in downtown Richmond added to the frustration as all the parking garages had a sign posted to use the Parking App on my phone - easy for Millennials, but not so easy for a grandma from the World War II baby era! I finally found a parking place on the street only to discover that old-fashion coin parking meters are obsolete, and I had to find and then figure out how to use the block electronic parking meter that also challenged my very inept technology savvy! A walk in the wind and cold finally got us there; and of course, Don’s family and many old friends warmly received us.
So what does this story have to do with our Redemption theme for this Lenten Season? This past Sunday, (December 31) the Holy Gospel was from John 1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“ Father Tom’s meditation challenged us to reflect on “What was it like to give your word to someone?” Although my story about keeping my word is full of very trivial and humorous frustrations, it reflects the message that giving our word is easy and finding excuses not to keep our word is even easier. But let me finish my story. On Christmas morning, one of the very first Merry Christmas text messages that I got, was from my friend expressing to me how much all my love and support meant to her and her family. God gave us His Son and keeps His Word. When we keep our word, redemption can come in very small, but meaningful ways.
Sylvia Wadsworth
“Redemption, like a livelihood, must be earned each day.” (Midrash)
No comments:
Post a Comment