Matters of Faith
By Dr. Bascom Ratliff, Pastor
Parker / Beagle / Fontana United Methodist Churches
Scripture: 1 John 2: 3-6 (Whoever claims to abide in Christ should walk as he walked)
The season of Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. Winter is ending and spring is beginning. As we walk with Christ toward the cross, we are reminded of the great hope that comes with his death and resurrection. As we take a deep dive into the meaning of Lent, we also experience the grief and sadness that Jesus likely experienced knowing that he would soon be betrayed and condemned to die on a cross.
As we walk with Jesus, I am reminded of the passage in 1 John, chapter 2, that tells us to walk as he walked. The great celebration and excitement for me is to know that Jesus is a great gift of love that God sent to teach us the art of serving and belonging. And to know that I am invited to walk with him. I believe that Jesus is about service. Being a member of his flock is about belonging. Walking with him is about using our gifts of the spirit and offering peace and hope to others.
During our walk with Jesus and our participation in his church, we become more fully aware of others who are joining us in our journey. Jesus offers hope to those who are angry and depressed. He offers solace to those who are fearful, disconnected, and disillusioned. And he provides all of this with gentleness and kindness.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us that he is gentle and kind and that his yoke is light. During this Lenten season, I believe it’s important to reflect on this passage. Following Christ is not about taking on burdens or responsibilities. It is not about our suffering, our shame, or our shortcomings. Rather, it’s about God’s mercy and forgiveness and his willingness to sacrifice his only son for our sins so that we may share in Jesus’s resurrection and have eternal life. It is a welcome message to those who are angry, fearful and disillusioned. Christ offers us connection and membership in a loving and caring group of believers who have open access to the unlimited power of a loving God.
To experience the love of God is no small thing. It is a powerful gift of assurance and celebration that helps us to overcome those feelings and thoughts which limit our full participation in a relational and meaningful life. Knowing that I am forgiven and that God is ready to welcome me into his heavenly family gives me great comfort and hope.
During our Lenten journey, I invite you to share in this expectation of greatness in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has promised us wonderful things and given us great gifts. Our task is to simply accept these gifts and give thanks to a loving God for all good things.
The challenge for all of us is to celebrate Lent by attending church and giving our life to Christ. I would encourage you to prayerfully consider attending Holy Thursday and good Friday services. Then let your celebration of Christ continue with a sunrise service and an Easter service. Immerse yourself in the Lenten message and further your faith commitment for a stronger connection with fellow believers.
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Are you walking with Jesus through this Lenten season? He is inviting you to join him on his journey. He promises you fellowship and connection with fellow walkers. I encourage you to join us in celebrating Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. We offer a spirit filled celebration and the joy of knowing that we belong to a loving God and a resurrected Christ.
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We will worship at the Beagle United Methodist Church during March 2025.
We will celebrate Holy Thursday on April 17 at 7 p.m. at the Parker UMC.
We will celebrate Good Friday on April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Beagle UMC.
We will celebrate Easter sunrise services at 7 a.m. at the Beagle UMC.
We will celebrate Easter Sunday services at 10 a.m. at the Fontana UMC.
All are welcome in God’s House.
Dr. Bascom Ratliff (913-710-5748)
Pastor: Parker/Beagle/Fontana
United Methodist Churches
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