Throughout the season of Lent, we are exploring ways to RE-turn to God. The prefix ‘re’ means to do again or go back. We’ve found that we can RE-solve to take on, or give up, some activity or food in order to draw closer in relationship to God throughout Lent. Because we aren’t perfect, we can fail in our plan and then we RE-Pent.
The Epistle from the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent 3 is Romans 5:1-11. In it we are told that since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace…knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us…God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us…
As the Epistle reminds us, God takes the first step in bringing us back into relationship. Now that we are about half-way through the season of Lent we may discover that we need to REMIND ourselves of what we are doing, and even more importantly WHY we are giving up chocolate or social media. We may need to REMIND ourselves why we decided to add an hour of Bible study, or a new devotion was a good idea. It’s all about deepening our relationship and love in response to God’s love. This image of an Albuquerque sunrise reminds me of God's never failing love. There is a hymn with the line "new every morning is the Love, our wakening and uprising prove"! Sunrises like this can be God's way or REMINDING us of God's love.
Again, the collect from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer gives us insight and comfort. It notes that we aren’t strong by ourselves, but only in Christ can we be protected and guided. Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
LENT BOX
We continue with our Lent box (a small box, plastic bag or storage container). We have the ribbon from Lent 1 to remind us of our Lent Resolve, and we have the pebble or bead from Lent 2 as a reminder that we can fail and need to Repent.
This week pick up your ribbon and tie a knot in it both as a reminder of your Lenten discipline and as a reminder to UN-tie and release the bad habits and actions that separate you from God and all creation.
Living Lent
The knot in your ribbon can help REMIND you of why you are keeping a Lenten discipline, and that God’s love is first and foremost a free gift.
You may want to write down what you have learned so far during Lent based on what you decided to give up or take on.
Pray the prayer in this meditation or one of your own to ask God’s help in maintaining your Lenten discipline.
