Welcome to Trinity Church, Newport
Trinity Church is a friendly welcoming community which seeks to enable people to explore the Christian life of faith, worship and service.
In view of current restrictions due to Covid, Sunday services have been suspended for the time being.
But please feel free to contact us if you wish - see our Contacts page.
We will be pleased to hear from you.
Reflection by Revd Fiona Brown
February 21st 2021
Mark’s Gospel does not go into detail about what happened in the desert, merely telling us that he was tempted by the devil.
Read St Mark’s Gospel chapter 1 verses 9 – 15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Reflection
What was it that sustained Jesus whilst he was in the wilderness (apart from the angels)? What did he think about? He had heard God, his heavenly Father, telling him that he was beloved and that God was well pleased with him. That must have given him the confidence to carry on. God says I’m OK. So I must be. I am dearly loved.
Knowing that we are loved gives us the resilience to carry on through difficult times. Jesus gets driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. It wasn’t something he chose to do and it probably wasn’t where he would have chosen to be. But he can do it. He can resist any temptation offered to him because he is secure in God’s love. He comes out of the wilderness certain of his calling to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to call the people to repentance.
We can do the “right thing” more easily when we know we are loved, and each one of us is a dearly loved child of God. (There are echoes here of last week’s reading about the transfiguration when God says “This is my Son, my beloved). (Mark 9. 7)
So … Knowing that we are loved, there are no excuses for not doing the right thing and living as God wants us to. During Lent, let’s listen to God and try to live his way more closely. After 40 days it ought to have become habit!
Prayer
Holy God, open our hearts and minds to know who you made us to be.
Help us to live every day knowing that we are your children.
Open our eyes to see not only others, but also ourselves, through your eyes of love. Amen.
We pray for all those in need. Especially we pray for John, Kath and Susan. Give them the strength they need. Amen.
Read STF 395 Spirit of the living God
Please feel free to contact us if you wish - see our Contacts page. We will be pleased to hear from you.
