Together on the Journey:
A Weekly Blog
Temptation. It’s one of those things we’re supposed to focus on in Lent. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, but did not sin, even when he was offered food when he was hungry and power when he felt powerless. During Lent, we often choose to give something up, and then struggle with temptation when we’re inevitably faced with the choice between having the thing or keeping our promise. And I’m not gonna lie, sometimes that choice will be a difficult one.
On Wednesday evening, I led the Church by Candlelight group through a meditation from the Iona community entitled, ‘Lord, help us to say no’. It focuses on the many apparently unimportant choices we have to face, which nevertheless may significantly affect our discipleship to Jesus.
This meditation is done by lighting a candle and placing it around a cross every time you say ‘yes’, and blowing out a different candle when we ask God to help us say ‘no’. It’s a powerful visual, but for now, I invite you to meditate on the words alone, and think about how you may react when faced with these questions:
Lord, Help Us to Say No (Lent meditation)
When the advertisements offer us everything, if only we have the money;
and you offer everything if only we do without,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
When the easier way to succeed means we lose our integrity,
but the harder way means we lose our pride,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
When church wants us to conform and be nice,
and you want us to rebel and be real,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
When our friends don’t respect what we count as important,
and we feel like giving in, just to save face,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
When we feel you have let us down and we want to leave you,
but we know we left you behind before we ever started,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
When we have come to a crossroads and we don’t know where to turn,
but we know that to stand still is the greater danger,
Lord, help us to say “no”; (blow out candle)
Help us say “yes” (place lit candle at the cross)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has been preached among you,
is not the one who is “yes” and “no.”
On the contrary, he is God’s “yes”;
for it is he who is the “yes” to all God’s promises.
(Adapted from Stages on the Way: Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week & Easter by the Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group)