A Journey of Faith: Exploring the Readings of February 2025
February 2025 is a time of change in the church calendar. We’re finishing the season of Epiphany, which ends with the Transfiguration on March 2nd, and getting ready for Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday on March 5th.
These dates are important in our faith. The Bible readings for February (which include Jeremiah 1:4-10, Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 13 & 15:1-11, and Luke 6:17-26) help us think about our lives in a world that has many problems. Things like wars, hunger, climate change, and the big gap between rich and poor make life hard. These big problems, along with the good and bad things in our own lives, can be too much, and can even make us doubt our faith. It’s a lot to deal with.
Looking to scripture for guidance, we turn to Jeremiah. His story in Jeremiah 1:4-10 speaks to this very struggle. Jeremiah’s initial reluctance to answer God’s call mirrors our own resistance to change, preferring the comfort of the familiar, especially when faced with uncertainty. This resistance is amplified when our faith is tested. Like Jeremiah, we may experience doubt and fear, making it hard to embrace God’s plan.
Yet, Jeremiah’s experience also shows us that God’s call, whether a dramatic turning point or a gentle prompting, ultimately prevails. Even when uncertainty looms, we are called to respond in faith, trusting that God’s guidance is sure. He promises to equip us with the strength and grace needed to navigate whatever challenges we face. This understanding gives us courage to step out in faith, knowing that God walks with us on every step of the journey.
In Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah has a powerful experience where he sees God’s holiness — both awe-inspiring and terrifying. This shows us how sinful we are and how we always need to ask God for forgiveness. It makes us want to look closely at our own lives, see where we’ve gone wrong, and try to live a better life that pleases God.
The Gospel of Luke, with its poignant presentation of the Beatitudes in Luke 6:17-26, offers a radical reordering of values. Jesus blesses the poor, the hungry, and the mourners, those often marginalized by society. This radical message challenges us to re-evaluate our own priorities, to question our pursuit of wealth and power, and to embrace a life of service and compassion.
The epistles, particularly 1 Corinthians, delve into the core of Christian belief, emphasizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 assures us that even in the face of death and suffering, there is always the possibility of new life, a life of eternal joy and abundant grace.
Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 13 emphasizes the primacy of love, reminding us that all other gifts, even prophecy and miracles, pale in comparison. This powerful message calls us to cultivate love in all our relationships, to extend grace and forgiveness, and to strive to embody the love of Christ in our daily interactions.
The green liturgical colour symbolizes growth, life and hope, mirroring the themes explored within the readings.
These readings, from across the Bible, offer us a variety of important lessons. They help us understand God and our faith better, encourage us to listen to God’s guidance, and show us how to live lives that reflect love and kindness.
By paying attention to these teachings and letting them change our hearts and minds, we can experience the true happiness and joy that come from a life lived in faith.
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