This morning we begin a symbolic journey. Our
journey is symbolising our Lord’s own journey. His journey was aiming at the Temple
- the ultimate place of worship for God’s people then. It was the place of
sacrifice – and Christ, at the end of His journey would make it the place to
bring all sacrifices there to a close. He would make the ultimate sacrifice of
Himself. He became the Lamb – the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world.
So we journey this morning to our local version of
the sanctuary of the temple – but the sanctuary of the new temple, which is
Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate worship by mankind. Our sanctuary
therefore reminds us of Jesus Christ crucified, but also of His presence with
us now: the tabernacle of His presence. The tabernacle is a sign to us all that
God has not forgotten us now. Yes we are sinners. Yes we have failed many times
as His disciples. We on our own are weak. But He is with us, and He calls us
again to come back to Him and to receive from Him His inestimable gift – His
very own life poured out for us - the grace of the Eucharist.
So let us walk with Him, not just symbolically as we
do now, but also in our lives – let us turn to Him afresh and renew ourselves
as His disciples, and let us carry our cross through the journey of this life
that we might share in His resurrection.
Fr Ian
