Are We There Yet?
Every time our family packed up the car and headed off on a trip, whether to visit grandparents and other family members, or take a vacation, there was always a point when the cry arose from the back seat. “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” are the questions of generations of traveling children. And there’s really no satisfactory answer — you can’t say, “Yes, we’re there” as it’s evident we’re still rolling down the highway. And the duration of the trip is often affected by the very person asking the question, who may need several urgent stops.
We so often travel with just one purpose — arriving at our destination. We have just enough time to go visit someone, attend an event, fish or camp or enjoy a short getaway, but then we need to return. There’s no opportunity to wander off on a side road to a scenic overlook to take in a beautiful view. We have to get home and go to work, to school, get to an appointment, or keep a commitment.
The Gospel of Matthew has turned out to be a wonderful Lenten resource for me, as I’ve found myself focusing on the teachings, parables, and instructions of Jesus. In Chapter 10, we learn of the journey on which Jesus sent his disciples. He instructs them to proclaim the good news, to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. No longer part of the twelve who had been walking the dusty roads along with Jesus, this time they are being sent in pairs, away from the security of their group. Furthermore, he tells them to travel with no money, no extra tunic or sandals, and to depend on the hospitality of those who listen to their message. It sounds as though he was making a difficult task even more challenging — the disciples were nearly beggars, or at the least, freeloaders. But take note of the interesting sentence included in these instructions: “You received without payment; give without payment.” (v. 8b) There’s the bottom line. God’s gift of salvation through Christ is free, a gift given to all people. The disciples had a clearly defined mission, and it appears that Jesus wanted them to have the confidence that they would be received and supported because of the message they brought.
Referring to the Lenten season as a spiritual journey resonates with many of us, as we have an understanding of travel, hopefully making progress toward a destination. There are, of course, going to be times when we wonder, “Are we there yet?” Or more likely, “Will we ever get there?” The journey doesn’t come to an end when Easter arrives, but rather we are given a fresh start. Having received the amazing gift of God’s love and forgiveness in the person of the risen Christ, we are assured that we are accompanied by our Lord, who guides and strengthens us as we share this good news with all people.
Your friend on the Lenten journey,
Mary Rogers