Notes from a Sojourn
April 8, 2020
Difficult Certainty
I coached basketball for many years at many different schools in the U.S and Canada. I was blessed enough to have mentored some amazing students who were also gifted with the ability to play the game of basketball. Because of these athletes, their teams experienced some very successful seasons along the way. But every coach remembers the losses more than the wins. Reminiscing these past few days, I remember taking a team to a tournament in Texas one year. The purpose was to share a memorable trip with them while getting to play some basketball. I knew in my heart that we would be diving into the deep end of the skill pool and that our chances of success or winning were slim to none, but we, a team of twelve fine young men and two coaches, rode on to face our destiny.
As the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem unfolded this past weekend, I couldn’t help but think about what he must have been feeling knowing that he was riding into certain destruction. He was entering a city with throngs of jubilant people singing his praises that within a few days would be calling for his execution. He was leading a pack of twelve disciples, men following and committed to him, into an experience they would never be able to forget but may never want to remember. He led them right into a most difficult certainty – his death and resurrection. He was sure what he was doing must be finished and would benefit not only his disciples, but all of the saints that had come before as well as those to come after. Our whole Christian heritage is based on this decision to ride into the foray and face, with certainty, the difficult path laid before him.
As we endure the uncertainty of these difficult times, I pray we will continue, with assurance, to depend on Christ Jesus who will see us through all things…..with CERTAINTY!
Mark Lewis
Pastoral Intern, St. Lawrence Parish
