Today’s Advent Reflection is from Linda Goodchild. Lay Reader in Training in Timperley Parish.
The Agenda for Rejoicing.
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.
Reflection
I bring warm greetings from Christ Church and Holy Cross in Timperley parish, Bowdon deanery. Mothers’ Union members may recall that our branches have been prayer partners in recent years. It is my privilege to share a reflection with you and I am grateful to my friend Mark for his kind invitation.
When I read of Paul and Timothy’s travels I am in awe. How did they plan their routes, was there an equivalent of a travel agent to help them? How did they endure the journeys they made? I enjoy my holidays very much and this year I was looking forward to visiting Crete with my friend. The planning which goes into our holidays does not reflect in any shape or form, the preparations which Paul and Timothy would make. We chose a holiday confident that everything will be in place for us and leaving us free to pack our suitcases, finding space for those new tankinis and the clothes we have finally decided to take. Then we received the dreaded email to say that Crete was closed, and the holiday was cancelled.
There are other ways to travel. Let us put ourselves into the sandals of Paul and Timothy and gather some blankets, food, and water to help us as we journey along the way with them. This pair of intrepid travellers share with us a route they have planned along the many Roman roads which have been built to support the movement of goods and livestock and of course soldiers. We have a donkey to carry our load, no suitcase on wheels for us, we have left them at home. We walk along at a steady pace, stopping from time to time to give our donkey a rest and being watchful for predators as there are some rather unsavoury characters about. The road is quite busy with other travellers passing by going from place to place for trade or business or sightseeing. Paul and Timothy take the opportunity to talk to whomever they meet to share their story and the good news of Jesus. It is always good to take time to chat to people as they can suggest where to find an inn or a house or a hostel to stay. On warm nights we sleep in the open air when we find somewhere safe. Paul and Timothy are usually on the road for a long time and they earn money along the way to buy food for the donkey and support themselves. We have found our way to a small town and here we will leave them. Paul and Timothy will be staying with friends and he is in demand to make tents and to build up their resources for the next stage of their journey.
It is time to take our leave and it has been a different experience from our usual holiday and before we parted Paul recalled the story of a journey which has not gone to plan v 8 “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. v9Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raised the dead.” NRSV
Paul and Timothy were demanding travel companions as the days were long and the roads dusty. They cared for us with such kindness and love and this story made us aware of the message they share. A message of comfort and joy, that no matter what our problems are, what terrible times we are encountering, that whatever our sufferings are, there is joy and consolation in God. We are reminded that Jesus patiently endured and suffered and died on the cross to save us. There is help and consolation for all of us.
We have been given the most precious gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit which brings us love and supports us and will be our consolation as we face the coming months. Paul gives thanks to the people of Corinth for their blessings and prayers as he knows that without prayer our lives are weak and unsupported.
There may not be an end to this pandemic for some time, it is path we must travel along together being loved, supported, consoled, and rescued by Jesus just as Paul and Timothy were. We cannot and must not underestimate the power that prayer brings to our lives and those whom we pray for. How can we spread the Gospel of our Lord if we have not experienced pain and received consolation and put our trust in Him?
God bless you all at this time of Advent and wishing you a joyous Christmastide.