The Season of Lent.... is traditionally a time
where we are reminded of Jesus’ life and death.
It is the beginning of his ultimate spiritual transformation,
and our transformation, if we are open to the mystery.
Lent has been used... as a time of self-examination.
It has also been a time when one thinks about what to do without...
the doing without... responds to the theological principle
of Jesus, sacrificing life for us.
It is interesting to note, that that principle
has only been a part of the church for just over 900 years,
it was not a part of the early church.
Lent is 40 days in length... not including Sundays...
- symbolizes Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting,
in the wilderness.
Lent is also seen a season of healing.
In Lent, we also open up our lives so
that we may see into the depths of our souls.
It is a time of confession.
This morning, I invite you to journey through this season of Lent,
wrapped in prayer...
we will remember the traditional themes,
but we will land - on, in and be surrounded by prayer as we journey.
We will talk about... forms of prayer, why we pray,
what it means to be people of prayer.
We will also continue to heighten our awareness of the various
streams in our Theological Banquet.
You may have noticed in the bulletin at the top of the order of service,
it says: Celebrating our Ecclesial sisters and brothers!
Our prayer of opening was in the stream of the Ecclesial,
as was our hymn after the lighting of the Christ Candle,
the prayers of the people will reflect that stream as well.
Hopefully, this will help us learn more about our unity in our diversity,
and we will grow to appreciate each other’s strengths.
During the season of Lent,
you are encouraged to add something to your day, to your living.
Carve out some time to enrich your life by giving to others,
by doing small acts of kindness.
I invite you to make a list of people you know and care about,
and then pray for them every day of this season of Lent.
Mark read these words, from Psalm 25...
Make me to know your ways, God;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
If we could read Psalm 25 in Hebrew,
we would see that each of the 22 verses begins with a letter of the alphabet.
This makes the Psalm easier to memorize... in Hebrew.
But that is not a requirement for today.
This morning, I want us to recognize an eagerness for learning...
in the words of this Psalm...
Let me know your ways O God.
Teach me your paths...
Lead me in your truth.
If we are serious about the journey through Lent,
if we want to make Lent mean something.
then we must be open to learning something new.
If we are serious... we will open our hearts and minds and spirits
to the moving of the Holy in our lives and life of this congregation.
God has something to teach us if we are ready to listen and learn.
Praying with an openness to being taught,
and a desire to be changed is a right and proper prayer for Lent.
Where in your life are you feeling closed...?
where are you too satisfied with the everyday routine...?
where might you be ready for spirit to break in
and change your heart?
Let me know your ways O God.
Teach me your paths...
Lead me in your truth.
May we also hear... in Psalm 25...
the freedom of forgiveness!
Be mindful of your mercy, God, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Holy One!
The writer of the psalm reminds God... to be loving,
to be forgiving, to be merciful.
Strange to be reminding God, to care for us...
but when we are feeling sad and hopeless,
it is not so unusual.
I have been there!
Don’t we all, fall short of being our best selves, now and then?
And don’t we need God to be merciful, loving, forgiving?
Prayer for forgiveness, and asking for strength to continue
to walk in the ways of the Christ,
is a right and proper prayer for Lent.
We are also to be open and receptive to offering
forgiveness to others...
and what is sometimes even more difficult,
we must find ways to forgive ourselves.
Forgiveness is not easy,
not easy.... but so necessary.
Forgiveness... at least for human beings,
does not mean forgetting...
when people do hurtful and hateful things,
they must be kept responsible...
but we will find liberty and hope,
if we are able to forgive.
So far we have heard about:
- praying for an eagerness for learning... and...
- prayers of forgiveness!
Now Psalm 25, pulls us into a prayer of praise
and adoration of God’s love and faithfulness.
All the paths of God are steadfast love.
To you, O God, I lift up my soul.
O Holy God, in you I trust
... says the Psalmist.
We give thanks and praise and glory to God...
because God... is God!
We are to praise and worship God in spirit,
and in truth.
We are to thank the Holy One,
for blessings and mercy,
and to love God with all our heart,
and all our mind, and all our soul...
and love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
Jesus instructed us to:
hallow... or bless the name of God...
As the Spirit Divine illumines us and sets us free...
we wait for God and give praise to God...
and show our gratitude.
This season of Lent, as we wrap ourselves,
warmly in prayer...
let your conversations with God,
inform you, enrich you, bless you and stretch you.
As you let your hearts relax in the heart of God,
may you give yourself to the Creator and lean in into love.
May love dwell in this house,
may prophets speak,
may hands reach out to heal and strengthen,
and may songs and visions be heard.
As God passionately pursues us and calls us to prayer...
may we answer with joy in our hearts and our eyes open.
AMEN and AMEN