 There is a logical development in the readings this Sunday: in the Old Testament, God asks us to look forward to the "new deed he will do", when he will put "water in the wilderness"; we then see the new deed, which Paul talks about, to be the "supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus", and sharing the "power of his resurrection"; so who is this Jesus, and how is he "water in the wilderness”? It is because he brings hope for the future and forgiveness of our sins, as the Gospel story relates. This Sunday's readings are there for our encouragement, to help us look forward to Easter, and the meaning of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection: that meaning is Reconciliation and a new creation (as we heard last week). We are driven on through Lent by a vision of the marvels that God has worked, and that God will work for us. THE LITURGY THIS WEEK
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 Every year, on the Second Sunday of Lent, we hear about the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top. Why? Jesus revealed his glory to the three apostles in order to strengthen them for the journey ahead - the journey to Jerusalem, Gethsemane and Golgotha. The same vision is today offered to us, to strengthen us in our Lenten Journey of Faith. Last week we heard about temptation: this week we are driven onwards by a vision of glory that will be ours - the goal of our lives of faith and all that we do as Christians. The transfiguration represents the final destination of our lives, if we are faithful in resisting temptation and living each day as faithful members of Jesus Christ. In our journey of renewal and new commitment through Lent, we are spurred on and encouraged by today's vision to see why the effort is worth it. THE LITURGY THIS WEEK 
 As with each First Sunday of Lent the Gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness; as we begin the journey of Lent, during which we will consider our lives as members of the Church, we look to the example of Jesus when it comes to dealing with temptation. Choosing to follow God's path is the first characteristic of the Christian: this is underlined in the two other readings, which outline the two" creeds" or statements of belief - one of Israel and one of the Christian. Both of them emphasise "believing in the heart and confessing with the lips": both creeds underline the Salvation that God has achieved - for Israel it was freedom from Egypt, for the Christian freedom from death in Jesus. THE LITURGY THIS WEEK 
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ALL SAINTS CHURCH
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February 2020
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