Welcome to Lent. A lot has been talked about regarding the idea that because most (all?) of us went into some kind of social distancing, lock-down, quarantine scenario about this time last year, that we have been in Lent for a year. There have certainly been times when it felt like a never-ending period of upheaval, and even penitence.
On the other hand, I think we may have also found some new
insights (some painful) about our corporate lives as Christians, as Americans,
as neighbors across the globe. We’ve discovered how inextricably linked we are
to each other and how a little virus in China can impact the entire world. We’ve
seen how the actions or inactions of a few can have devastating impacts on
populations. We’ve also seen people of all ages, creeds, cultures, and
skin-tones step up to work for solutions and be on the front lines and work
food pantries and advocate for change. We’ve discovered ways to make technology,
like Zoom, our friend and ally in reaching one another, virtually.
And now we are in Lent again. In this Lent blog journey, I am
focusing on praying for the World, Church, Nation, Social Order, Natural Order,
and Family. There are prayers in the back of the Episcopal Book of Common
Prayer (BCP) for each of these topics. This week we are focusing on the World.
My Lent blog this year will also borrow from the Episcopal
Church’s 2021 Lent curriculum: Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent.
I’ve used
the Way of Love disciplines in other blog series since 2019, and in my most
recent book, The Lord’s Prayer: Walk in Love. The seven disciplines or tenets offer a blueprint for living faith-filled lives. Last week, for Ash
Wednesday, we looked at TURN. The curriculum suggests writing a letter to
yourself detailing what changes you hope to make in Lent. You can still do that
this week, then put it away safely until Easter.
This week, we are looking at PRAY, a very basic cornerstone for any journey with God. Exodus 14:10-15:1 is the familiar story of the Crossing of the Red Sea (depicted in this The Crossing of the Red Sea by Nicolas Poussin (1633–34)). It “one of the most important baptismal stories in the whole Bible. In the blessing over the water, which we PRAY at every baptism, we remember that the Hebrews were liberated from bondage in Egypt through water….[In] this powerful story…prayer has been woven through every step the Israelites took in their path to liberation. When they were afraid and even doubted, their prayer was heard by God who told them that he would not abandon them. When they were about to be overtaken by the Egyptians, their prayer for deliverance was answered. Moses was given the power to part the sea, and they crossed on dry land. Finally, when they were safe, the prophet Miriam led a prayer of rejoicing and thanksgiving with song and dancing. Each of these prayers is important to the story and to the relationship built between God and God’s people.”
If you want to, you can watch the short video of this week’s lesson on the Life Transformed page. S
The Life Transformed curriculum notes that there are seven
types of prayer:
1. “Adoration: We lift up our hearts and minds to God, asking
nothing but to enjoy God’s presence.
2. Praise: We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God’s Being draws
praise from us.
3. Thanksgiving: We offer gratitude to God for all the blessings of this life,
for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God.
4. Penitence: In penitence, we say we are sorry, confess our sins, and make
amends and life change wherever possible.
5. Oblation: We offer ourselves, our lives and labors, in union with Christ,
for God’s purposes.
6. Intercession: We bring before God the needs of others.
7. Petition: We present our own needs, that God’s will may be done.”
There are many ways to do each of these types of prayer. Using
written prayers, movement, music, silence, or art are just some of the ways to
pray. I’m sure you have your own favorite way of praying. Perhaps this week
is a time to try out a different method. If you usually read prayers, try
writing your own or drawing your prayer. If you have never tried praying with
music and movement, why not now? If you think silence isn’t ‘your thing’, Lent
is the perfect time to attempt to sit silently with God for a minute or two.
(Don’t try a long, long time to start!) If you’ve never done lexio divino or
lexio visio research and try that.
Our topic of PRAY is especially suited to the WORLD at this time. Because
we are so closely linked with one another due to COVID19, we can and should
bring all the world to God in prayer. The easiest way to pray for the world
is to use the prayers in the BCP starting on page 814 or online (click on Prayers and Thanksgivings in the menu).
You could pray for the world using a different type of prayer each
day and/or using an unfamiliar method. For instance, on Sunday, Pray for
the countries of the world with Adoration. Use movement to do so, like envisioning
walking around the globe, praying for each country you ‘visit’. For Monday,
offer Praise for the world using music or art. Find a piece of music or art
from various countries and focus on them while praying.
The Life Transformed curriculum homework suggests taking “a
small piece of paper and write down the different types of PRAYER listed in the
catechism. Post these somewhere you can see them every day. Some good places
might include your steering wheel, your mirror, or your computer screen. At
least once a day, commit to offering up one prayer from each type, paying
attention to what the Holy Spirit might be teaching your heart.”
In closing, I offer this prayer from the BCP for The Human Family:
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus
your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the
arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that
separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion
to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and
races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
And this one from the curriculum:
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call
upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to
do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 231)
