A Brief Review: A Passage Through Sacred History

A Passage Through Sacred History: Lenten Reflections for Individuals and Groups

Author: Don C. Skinner

Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio: United Church Press

96 pages, ISBN: 0-8298-1216-4

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Don C. Skinner, at the time of writing this little volume, was a retired United Church of Christ minister living in Forest Grove, Oregon.

   The volume contains a brief Introduction and seven chapters. Rev. Skinner suggests that the book be read, studied, and discussed one chapter at a time to coincide with the seven weeks of Lent.

   The format is as follows: i) A quotation at the beginning of each chapter, from various sources, attempting to compliment the theme of each chapter. ii) The chapter’s content material, based on one or more passages from the Bible. iii) Questions for discussion, which may also lead to further study and research.

   In chapter one, the author focuses on the story of God’s promise made to Abraham and Sarah, and the Hebrew concept of hesed, “radical faithfulness” (p. 7) as a description of God’s character—meaning that God can be trusted to carry out and honour his promise.

   Chapter two looks at God’s covenant with Moses and the Israelites, and emphasizes that a covenant is more like a marriage than a contract.

   In chapter three Rev. Skinner points out one of the oldest theological conundrums for Israel’s prophets—the dialectic of right worship and right action, ritual and social justice, and the tension these often create.

   Chapter four makes the case for the Jewishness of Jesus, the gospel accounts of his compassion for his own people in his public ministry, and a needed emphasis that there is no place for anti-Semitism among Christians.

   In chapter five the author draws some parallels between the Passover and the Last/Lord’s Supper.

   Chapter six focuses on the Christian celebration of Pentecost, which is rooted in the Jewish Feast of Weeks. God offers his grace to Israel in the gift of the law. God offers his grace to Christians in the gift of the Holy Spirit.

   In the final chapter, the author tells a couple of contemporary stories, highlighting unity and diversity, and acts of kindness and mercy in the church.

   This volume has the potential to be a helpful and edificatory resource for the season of Lent.

       

Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the February 8, 2018 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   The ‘D’ word. A word most unpopular in our society. The ‘D’ word I’m referring to is, of course, death.

   Over the wide sweep of human history, death and dying have been treated in a host of ways.

Death has been, and for many still is something to be avoided and feared. For example, we soften our language by employing euphemisms like: ‘he or she passed away, fell asleep and never woke up, has left us, shed this veil of tears, is at rest’—and the list goes on. 

   Another way humans deal with death and dying is by speaking of death as the enemy. One wages war against death, one battles the enemy. Ingmar Bergman’s film The Seventh Seal illustrates this well, picturing a medieval knight in a classic struggle against death. According to both the Jewish and Christian faiths, death occurs because it is the result of sin—hence it is not only our enemy, but also God’s enemy because it causes suffering for God and for all creation.

   Another way human beings have regarded death is by referring to it as a friend. In this view of death, nothing is to be feared. Rather, death is to be accepted as a natural end to this life. For people of faith, it is something to look forward to with hope, since it is viewed as a release from the sin and sufferings of this world.

   Another metaphor that some employ to describe death is that of a door. For many people of faith, they speak of death as a door that opens for them and then closes behind them at God’s appointed time. Death as a door leads to a better life and is not to be feared.

   Then there is, as Psalm twenty-three describes it, “the valley of the shadow of death,” or “the darkest valley.” It is a great unknown, and too dark to see clearly. Yet, the psalmist remains confident, and not afraid of evil, since the LORD walks with us through this darkest valley, hence it is not a permanent state or place of residence.

   The season of Lent is an appropriate time to focus on the ‘D’ word. Lent assists us all as we focus on the suffering, dying and death of Jesus; we are better able to focus on and prepare for our own suffering, dying and death.

   It is very instructive that the Hebrew word for sacrifice means to draw close. Jesus by willingly, lovingly, unconditionally choosing to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of the world has drawn everyone closer to God.

Prayer of the Day/Collect for 5th Sunday in Lent, Year A

Cross by Dim Lamp

Life-giving God: Long ago you breathed life and hope into your chosen people, and delivered them out of exile. You also show compassion to those who grieve the loss of loved ones, and promise them new life with a hopeful future. Help us to show compassion for those who are grieving in our midst, and to be bearers of your grace; through Jesus Christ, our cross-bearing Messiah, who lives and reigns with you and the life-breathing Spirit, one God, now and forever.    

Clergy Comment article

Here is my article published in the March 17, 2016 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   Lent and meanings of the cross

The most prominent symbol of the Lenten season is the cross. The English word symbol comes from two Greek words meaning, “to throw together.” When one reflects on that, a light bulb comes on.

   For example, a cross consists of two pieces of material coming together—one vertical, and one horizontal. The vertical portion of the cross, of course, symbolizes our relationship with God. It is a reminder that God, through the person of Jesus, came to grace us with a relationship of unconditional love. This relationship is only possible through God’s initiative, not through anything we have to offer, or are, in and of ourselves.

   The horizontal portion of the cross symbolizes our relationships with others as together we journey in faith in response to what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross; we are called into a life of loving our neighbours. Love comes alive and is made known through serving our neighbours.

   The cross symbolizes a “throwing together” of the least likely people. For example, in Jesus’ public ministry, he associated with and called such diverse people as: a Samaritan woman, who engaged in the longest recorded theological conversation with Jesus in all the gospels; Zacchaeus who was a wealthy tax collector and likely despised by his fellow Jewish citizens; and the list goes on, the point being that Jesus’ ministry was an inclusive one; all were welcome. The cross therefore symbolizes a “throwing together” of people from every background in the church. 

   However, the cross also symbolizes a “throwing together” of all that is in opposition to God and God’s purposes: evil and sin manifested through lies, hatred, injustice, violence, suffering and death. All of these opponents of God and God’s purposes “thrown together” crucified Jesus. Jesus continues to suffer and be crucified through the multiple sufferings and cruel, senseless deaths of far too many human beings today.

   Yet, in a deeply mysterious and profoundly powerful way, the cross symbolizes God’s reversal of reality whenever evil and sin are overcome with love and forgiveness; suffering and death are transformed into new, resurrection life; and failure and defeat turn into success and victory. It’s happening all around us as God’s realm continues to increase here and around the globe whenever: the hungry are fed; the thirsty are given a drink; the stranger is welcomed; the naked are clothed; and the sick and imprisoned are visited. 

Prayer of the Day/Collect for 2nd Sunday in Lent Yr B

God of life, as we journey through the Lenten season, make us ever aware of our calling to follow where

Image by GW-H 

Jesus leads us by a life of self-denial and cross-bearing. Help us to walk with you Jesus as you reveal yourself to us through the sufferings of the poor, sick, forgotten, lost, last and least in our midst and around the globe. For it is in losing life for your sake and the sake of the gospel that we gain real, lasting and abundant life; through Jesus the cross-bearing Messiah. Amen.