Bishop Coyner's Weekly E-pistle

The Road to Jerusalem

I have been to Israel several times, and each trip I have visited Jerusalem more than once. So I have traveled several roads to Jerusalem, and I look forward to leading another Holy Land trip next year (February of 2013).

But the most important road to Jerusalem is the journey that we all are invited to travel through this season of Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday, and it begins the 40 days of Lent. Those who count carefully may notice that those 40 days do not include the actual Sundays of Lent. Why not? Because the early church leaders who developed the season of Lent did not want any Sunday to be considered a time of penitence and preparation – because every Sunday is a “little Easter” and Sundays should always be a time of joy, not a sad or reflective time. However one looks at the 40 days, it is clear that the early church leaders wanted us to follow Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem as a way of learning about our own faithfulness and discipleship.

The road to Jerusalem was not an easy road for Jesus. He faced tests, temptations, challenges, and dangers on the way. His own disciples urged him to avoid Jerusalem because they feared the dangers. But Jesus was resolute that he must be obedient to God’s plan, even if his road to Jerusalem ended at the Cross.

How about us? Our road to Jerusalem and the Easter celebration can be trivialized into giving up dessert, or avoiding some small temptations, or even worse it can be just a travel through our usual schedules without paying much attention to reliving the journey of Jesus. For most of us, this season of Lent will not confront us with danger and fear. In fact, the biggest “danger” we face is complacency or taking God for granted.

Lent invites us to get moving, to travel with Jesus, and to grow in our discipleship. Lent provides us with opportunities to learn, to worship, to pray, and to reflect upon the Gospel. Like any journey, the journey to Jerusalem during Lent requires that we get off the couch, pack a small bag of valuables, and leave behind those things which hinder us.

One more thing: the road to Jerusalem is uphill – literally. Jerusalem sits on Mount Zion, and any trip to Jerusalem is uphill. That geographic fact reminds us of the spiritual truth that following Jesus is always an upward journey, a challenge, and a yet also an opportunity for growth.

Ash Wednesday reminds me that it is time to get started on the trip. Let’s take the road to Jerusalem.