Second Sunday of Lent Genesis 17: 1-7; 15-16 Mark 8: 31 – end

Last week I wrote about tying knots in handkerchiefs and watching rainbows in the skies. These were reminders about some important task to be done or of a duty to perform. Our memories are not always very good and a prompt helps, especially if we remember just what the prompt is telling us.

In the reading from Genesis we read of how God reinforced his promise made to Abram. He had already confirmed his promise by the rainbow in the sky but here God is going one step further. If Abram leads a faultless and blameless life then he will be the father of nations. God will base his covenant through him, a covenant that will extend throughout generations.

This addition to the original promise is exemplified through the change in Abram’s name. Initially Abram meant a high or exalted father. But in being renamed as Abraham, his new name meaning father of many nations, shows how God will work through him this extended covenant.

Looking now at the Gospel reading we can understand how the disciples were feeling about the near future. God had made an everlasting covenant and yet here was Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of Man, making his way to his death in Jerusalem. This was something that the disciples could not believe. It is something that many people, even today, have great difficulty with. These feelings all came to a head when Peter tackled Jesus and protested in such a violent way.

The words, “Get behind me, Satan!” might seem to be a bit over the top to us. But again, we need to understand the culture of the day. Jesus had just spent time in the wilderness, he was hungry, he had been tempted by the devil, and he was possibly feeling weakened by the ordeal. Peter, in his approach to Jesus, was putting into words the very temptations which Jesus had battled against. Peter was speaking as if the devil was speaking through him.

The devil can be very cunning. Even today we have to watch out for him trying to act in our life. We can find ourselves in a tricky situation. We have a decision to make. One way out for us would be easy and, maybe, not exactly the best solution. On the other hand the way forward would incur great pain, and possibly loss. This latter path, when examined, would be the correct path even though a very painful path. A close friend comes to you and advises you to take the easier path. Why put yourself forward to pain and loss, trouble and unpopularity? You have a wife and family. It could be that the friend loves us so much that they wish to prevent us from heading into trouble, to play safe.

It is terrible how the tempter sometimes speaks to us in the voice of a well-meaning friend. In this way the tempter is making the most terrible attack upon us that he can. In using the voice of one who loves us dearly the tempter strikes.

This is what happened to Jesus all those years ago. This is why Jesus spoke so sternly to Peter. We need to listen out for the voice of God speaking out to us, speaking out above that pleading voice of love.

Collect for the Second Sunday of Lent

Almighty God,

you show to those who are in error the light of your truth,

that they may return to the way of righteousness:

grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,

that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession,

and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.