Lenten Hope Does Not Disappoint
Michael Throop… And hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5
—
For united we stand, divided we fall
And if our backs should ever be against the wall
We’ll be together, together, you and I…
“United We Stand (Tony Hiller) Brotherhood of Man
We’re well into the season of Lent, the time we examine where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are headed. Hardly groundbreaking information, but there’s no doubt the pains and the joys, whatever the impact, inform our daily travels since last Easter, indeed, since the beginning of this year.
Running simultaneously with this self-examination is the self-survey where we ask: who are we to trust, to whom can we go to share our earthly concerns. Basically, who’s listening, and how well?
Paul tells the Romans we are redeemed, because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, on the cross, for our good. We are together, forever, in this bond between God and man, through His son, Jesus Christ,
The song “United We Stand” was released in late 1969 by, essentially, a group of studio singers in Great Britain. The singers filled in with other studio groups, which, if you are of a “certain age” likely would remember: First Class and Edison Lighthouse, among others. This song, again, released at the height of great unrest over the Vietnam conflict, racial injustice, and the fallout in relationships from so much anger, pain, and sorrow. It is, yes, a personal love song, but it is so much more.
It affirms there is so much that is beyond our control, but there is also so much we can bring to each day to comfort and support each other, and witness to others through our faith.
As Paul notes, “For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.” He is our “uniter”. He and his ultimate sacrifice in Love is our light in the darkness, and our clearer path in this Lenten journey.
