Dear Faith Family,
Happy Valentine's Day!...I mean, Ash Wednesday!... I mean Lent!... Awh!... There is way too much happening today, and I'm not sure happy!" is the appropriate adjective for it all!
Because we have an early Easter this year (March 31st) and are in a Leap Year, somewhat ironically, this day of love is also the day of mourning. For much of the global Church, today marks the first day of this journey of bright sadness, which is known as Ash Wednesday.
On this day, the Church gathers to consecrate themselves for the Lenten pilgrimage that begins through the imposing of ashes. The ashes are a reminder that from dust we have our origin, and from dust, we will return, but by an absurd and gracious gift of Jesus' life, we are given life full and forever. Ashes may be our end, but they are not the end.
Now that I'm thinking about it, perhaps today's unique convergence is not so ironic.
While there are a variety of theories as to the origin of Valentine's Day, nearly all of them include the sacrifice of one person's life for another as an act of love, whether out of romantic affection or something more. And, as we've said throughout our preparation for this day and the days ahead, we know where we are going is to the place of love's greatest personification, a life given so we might live beyond the sacrifice.
So, I invite you today into all that this day offers: celebrate love, remember love's sacrifice, and open your heart and life for the return home by joining with saints around the world, praying the "Litany of Penitence" As we pray, let us share in our need for God's grace and receive grace upon grace in Jesus, the love of His life given and our life lived in His love for us.
Pray with and as the Church on this day of love and mourning that leads us into the arms of a true life in Love (1 John 4:9-19):
Most holy and merciful Father:
We confess to you and to one another,
and to the whole communion of saints
in heaven and on earth,
that we have sinned by our own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, nor mind, nor strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, gracious Father.
We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Jesus served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, compassionate Father.
We confess to you, Father, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives.
We confess to you, humble Father.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, self-giving Father.
Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, generous Father.
Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, just Father.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, patient Father.
We turn to you, Father, and away from the wrongs we have done: acknowledging our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
We hold fast to you, always-present Father.
Acknowledging false judgments, uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and prejudice and contempt toward those who are different from us,
We turn to you, ever-chasing Father.
Acknowledging our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
We hold fast to you, never-changing Father.
Restore us, good Father, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.
Bring to maturity the fruit of your salvation,
That we may show forth your glory in the world.
By the cross and passion of your Son our King and Friend,
Bring us with all your saints into the complete joy of his resurrection.
Amen.
Love you, faith family! God bless.