Chaplain's Message

This last Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent in the Christian Calendar – the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Why 40 days? Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray for 40 days to begin his ministry – a time for him of temptation by the devil where his strength, courage and resolve were tested to the nth degree. He was offered power and the kingdoms of the world by Satan when he was at his lowest ebb – but he refused. He was encouraged to put God’s faithfulness to the test – he called it for what it was and refused. He was commanded to challenge his commitment to prayer and fasting by turning the stones into bread – he resisted. A man of honour, of faithfulness and total integrity, with no sin yet he took ours to the cross for our redemption. He hung in agony on the cross with words of forgiveness on his lips “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

As we cast our minds around the world we see money-hungry, power-grabbing leaders who are showing anything but a Christlike like example. Clawing their way to the pinnacle of power, bringing pain, destruction and lies as they are bound by evil motives, dedicated to control.

It is in this environment that God's love, forgiveness and grace can and will shine brightest. The flicker of the candle will shine brightest when the room is at its darkest.

May we pray bravely, courageously... asking for miracles in the darkness to bring a sense of God's loving presence into the bleakest moments of people’s lives. May we, this Lent, commit to daily prayer, to finding ways to give generously to help support those who are desperate, find ways in our own little part of the world to be a Christlike example to those around us. And just as Jesus drew close to his Father through fasting, may we find something to give up in our own lives that will remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus and the great love of the Father.

Psalm 46 V 9 -11

He makes wars cease 

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the shields[d] with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

 I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

~ Pastor Sarah Pollitt

   College Chaplain