Readings
for Ash Wednesday:
Joel 2:1-2,12-17; Mt. 6:1-6,16-21
February 9, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent comes from the word meaning springtime. Lent is the liturgical season, 40 days before Easter, when Christians traditionally make a special effort to clean out the "inner garbage" from their lives. One of the ways we clean out the inner garbage from our lives is through the practice of the spiritual disciplines. These disciplines allow God's grace to transform our character. God's grace is so much more powerful and effective than our own ego strength. That is because the ego is only interested in preserving itself while God is interested in our becoming like Christ. This is why it is so important to comport our lives so that grace can work on our hearts. The spiritual disciplines include: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration. On Ash Wednesday, we especially focus on the disciplines of prayer, fasting, confession, submission, and worship.
Ashes are at the center of today's liturgy. Ashes are a symbol of a contrite heart and a sign of our mortality. "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." [BCP 265] So, if we are just dust, if we are all going to die, what exactly is it that you want to do for the rest of your life? Are you living the life that you want? Does this life coincide with your baptismal vows? And if not, how can you do things differently so that you and the other people (with whom you share space on this planet can live) can live life more abundantly? Remember, it is not just about you. It is about all of God's creation living in harmony and peace.
In a few moments, we will kneel and make a corporate confession together. This is one of the only times during the year when Episcopalians come together as a community of faith to recite in public, our unfaithfulness, our self-indulgent appetites, and our contempt towards God's creation. This is such an important action for the healing of this planet. Why is that? While some of the suffering in society is caused by individuals hurting other individuals, most of the suffering in society is caused by the way families, communities, institutions, and countries conduct their communal life.
Wars, terrorism, economic disasters, poverty, and much sickness, are all caused by selfishness, ignorance, and unjust practices and structures on a large scale. Every child that is born into this world, receives the legacy of a wounded, alienated environment, filled with narcissism and misguided passions. While the creation of this alienated and alienating environment is no one person's fault, it is all of our fault. In our public confession, we will remind ourselves of those practices, in which we participate, that result in so much chaos in our world. After each confession, we will be given an opportunity to ask for forgiveness.
Traditionally, many people think of Lent as a time of deprivation and pain. But neither of our biblical readings point to this kind of deprivation. In the first reading from the prophet Joel, the people are being called to consecrate themselves before God so that they might become the kind of people for whom following God, naturally flows. This is called the process of sanctification. Forgiveness of sins is meaningless without the desire for sanctification. What spiritual disciplines would help you become the kind of person for whom following Christ naturally flows?
In the reading from the gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns us that practicing spiritual disciplines in order to receive public attention is a misguided notion. I don't think that the exhibition of public piety is an issue here at St. Jude's. For us, the issue would be to begin to practice a religious piety (i.e. spiritual discipline) during Lent in order to deepen our relationship with God. How do we do that?
There is one parishioner here at St. Jude's who has decided to put aside reading literary fiction for the season of Lent. Instead, she will spend her spare time reading the bible as well as a book by Marcus Borg on Jesus. In addition, she will focus her prayer life by saying "the Jesus prayer" as a way of imprinting God's nearness, love, and mercy on her consciousness. She will also attend this year's Lenten Program at St. Jude's on Spiritual Transformation. These spiritual practices will be a lot more transformative to her and pleasing to God than giving up chocolate or wearing a hair shirt. Have you thought about what you might do differently during this season of Lent? If not, now is the time to make a plan. What spiritual disciplines would help you become the kind of person for whom following Christ naturally flows?
"Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." [BCP 264]
| Updated 2/10/05 |
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