How will we observe Lent?

By Rev. Heather J. Blais, Rector

​The Church across the world is invited today to begin the observance of a holy Lent. Ashes are imposed by drawing the sign of the cross on foreheads, while reminding us of an eternal and unavoidable truth. “You are dust, and to that dust you shall return.” 

This is not a condemnation. It is a gift. 
A reminder of how precious life is, and our shared responsibility to make this journey with faith and intention.

We are invited to observe Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating‬ on God’s holy Word. I want to spend a few minutes this evening sharing some ways we might embrace this invitation. They may or may not be right for you. What matters is that we each discern how God is inviting us to observe this Lent.  

We might observe Lent by focusing on self examination and repentance. We begin with self-examination. Looking first at where we may need reconciliation with God and/or ourselves. Asking:

• What shame or burden am I carrying?

• Am I tending to my relationship with God?
• Am I living out the values of my faith? 

Then we consider where we may need reconciliation with our family, friends, and neighbors.  Asking:

• Where have I experienced a fracture in my relationships? 
• What is my share of the responsibility for that fracture?
• How might I help that fracture to begin healing?
  
  
  

Finally, we reflect on reconciling with our enemies. Those we believe are vehemently wrong or hold with contempt. And if we don’t think we have any enemies, I would push back a bit. Think about the politicians, business leaders, or groups that we believe are acting deplorably. Can we distinguish between their disturbing actions and the truth of our faith - that they too are made in the image and likeness of God?  That they too are beloved by God? And if so, can we more consistently model that in the way we speak about them?

Once we have gotten clear on where we need reconciliation, we find a way to repent and mend those tender places. This may be in prayer or journaling; talking to a trusted friend or therapist; changing a behavior or action; or sitting down with whomever we are called to reconcile with. We might bring this tender concern to God during the confession in Sunday worship, or meet with the clergy about the sacramental rite of reconciliation. 

Another way to observe Lent is by focusing on prayer, fasting, and self-denial. When Bishop Beckwith was with us a couple of Sundays ago, he proposed a Sabbath Fast from Food, Finance and Media. What might it look like if throughout the Church, some choose to embrace a second Sabbath, where we:

• fast from food (if our health allows)
• fast from spending money or window shopping online
• fast from consuming media - whether that be the news or social media; which we ingest through seemingly endless different mediums.

Imagine the space that might be generated as a result of this fast. Space to pray and discern what we want our relationship to be with the production/consumption system.

Now maybe the demands of caregiving or mid-life leave us feeling unable to take a second day of Sabbath. Maybe we have a hard enough time trying to hold space for a Sabbath.  If that’s the case, we might instead double down in our intention of honoring the Sabbath. Choose one day a week that we will intentionally gear towards rest and renewal. On this day, we won’t shop online or run around doing errands. Rather we will make ourselves more available to God. If you’re interested in exploring this, please see the links posted with this sermon to Bishop Beckwith’s blog. 

We might observe Lent by reading and meditating‬ on God’s holy Word. Molly introduced me to a lovely Lenten devotional that comes from the Communities for Spiritual Vitality, a ministry of the Diocese of Vermont & Diocese of Massachusetts. The devotional is focused on the prophet Isaiah, who was a prophet of both rebuke and hope. Something we all need right now. Each daily devotion begins with an invitation to pray the included Collect of the Day, and a particular passage from Isaiah. Then we’re invited to reflect on the passage: 

• What word or phrase shimmers or stings?
• Where is the passage speaking to world circumstances?
• Where is it speaking to our own inner reality?

Then read the daily reflection, and notice where we’re drawn in and where we pull back. Lastly, end in prayer, including prayer for the writer, their worshipping community, and their diocese. This devotional features writers from all over Province 1, including our own Jimmy Pickett, Julie Carew, Molly Scherm, and Will Harron. If you’re interested in this devotional, please see the link posted with this sermon. 

No matter what you discern, this Lent, remember you are invited to wear your ashes, to claim repentance, grace and deep relationship with God for the challenges of your daily life. Amen. 






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