Lent
“A journey, a pilgrimage! Yet, as we begin it, as we make the first step into the ‘bright sadness’ of Lent, we see - far, far away - the destination. It is the joy of Easter, it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom.”
- Alexander Schmemann.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian gospel, and Good Friday and Easter are two of the most significant celebrations of the Christian year. Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives... Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection (From The Worship Sourcebook).
- Calling -
O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim Your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy:
O come, let us adore him.
- LENTEN MEDITATION -
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday; the day many Christians receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads. Why? In Scripture, ashes are a public sign of confession and repentance, as well as a plea for God’s help, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Ashes are also a sign of human frailty and dependence on God, the creator of all things. As Lent begins, consider attending our Ash Wednesday service. Also prayerfully consider the following questions in light of the scripture lessons: In what ways have I been running away from God or doubting God’s love for me? What hopes of healing do I have for myself and the world around me?
- Constitution -
Read/Listen, Meditate, Pray, and Contemplate on God’s Word, remembering that God is with you and ready to speak to you because he loves you.
Praying the Psalms
Psalm 123
A Song of Ascents.
[1] To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
[2] Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he has mercy upon us.
[3] Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
[4] Our soul has had more than enough
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
Psalm 124
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
[1] If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
[2] if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
[3] then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
[4] then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
[5] then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
[6] Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
[7] We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
[8] Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
A Song of Ascents.
[1] Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
[2] As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
[3] For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
[4] Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
[5] But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
Old Testament Reading
Job 34
[1] Then Elihu answered and said:
[2] “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
[3] for the ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
[4] Let us choose what is right;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
[5] For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,
and God has taken away my right;
[6] in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
[7] What man is like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
[8] who travels in company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men?
[9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’
[10] “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
[11] For according to the work of a man he will repay him,
and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
[12] Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
[13] Who gave him charge over the earth,
and who laid on him the whole world?
[14] If he should set his heart to it
and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
[15] all flesh would perish together,
and man would return to dust.
[16] “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
[17] Shall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
[18] who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
[19] who shows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich more than the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
[20] In a moment they die;
at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
[21] “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
[22] There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
[23] For God has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
[24] He shatters the mighty without investigation
and sets others in their place.
[25] Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
[26] He strikes them for their wickedness
in a place for all to see,
[27] because they turned aside from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways,
[28] so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
[29] When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
[30] that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.
[31] “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
[32] teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
[33] Will he then make repayment to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore declare what you know.
[34] Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
[35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words are without insight.’
[36] Would that Job were tried to the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
[37] For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
New Testament Reading
2 Corinthians 4
[1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. [8] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So death is at work in us, but life in you.
[13] Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, [14] knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. [15] For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
[16] So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. [17] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- Communion -
Pray for yourself, others, our church, our neighbors, and the world.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer & the collect of the week:
Our Father who art in heaven...
God of the desert, as we follow Jesus into the unknown, may we recognize the tempter when he comes; let it be your bread we eat, your world we serve and you alone we worship. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
- Commission -
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. (1 Peter 5:10-11)
Let us go forth in the name of Christ.