Within this collection of stories, reflections, and writings, you will find windows into the mystery of God. Members and friends of our parish have written pieces for use as devotionals in this season of Lent. Most all of the works are original, and they range from poems to personal stories to reflections on scripture. Some will evoke tears or laughter, while others may not do much for us at all. The pieces are as unique as the writers, and they may not resonate with everyone, which is fine. But it is my hope that with each daily entry we will all find some way to connect with God.


My thanks to those who contributed to this project. It takes courage to offer something publicly as we have done with this collection. I know that some of you have gone well outside your comfort zone to reflect spiritually on parts of your life or to share ideas that you have treasured for yourself. I also want to thank Tiffany Ayers who used her skills as an editor to put this collection together and catch all of our typos and literary bobbles.


I pray that each of us would find this Lenten Season a holy and special time.


In Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Tom+

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

February 17, Ash Wednesday

A Season of Preparation

Because I do not have a childhood tradition of Lenten sacrifice (or attending Ash Wednesday services, etc.), I have something of a conflicted relationship with the season. On the one hand, I’m awed by the sacrifices – and fidelity to commitments – made by people around me. Chocoholics forgoing their “fix,” children donating their allowance, cocktail devotees abstaining for 40 days; it’s all very impressive. And, while some sound a trumpet before them as they give these things up, most perform this annual ritual as a personal and deeply meaningful act of preparation, generously given.

Why do I not feel called to prepare in the same way? Who am I to hold out the belief that self-denial isn’t something my loving God wants me to do to demonstrate my faith? Why do I personally feel vindicated when Matthew admonishes us to give alms in secret, to pray quietly and alone, and not to be “outward” about our sacrifices or the practice of our piety?

I was profoundly struck by the Gospel reading a couple weeks ago in which Luke writes of Jesus when a mob of people were going to throw him off the cliff: “He passed through the midst of them and went on his way.” What a staggering thought that Jesus might just not hang around where he isn’t wanted!

It started me thinking that maybe that’s what this season of preparation is all about – being intentional about inviting Jesus into our midst and into our hearts and asking him to stay around. And because it is human nature to take things for granted, to accommodate to what we have, maybe sacrifices and rituals during Lent are useful reminders about how much God appreciates an invitation.

The most famous part of this lesson is Verse 21: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I have spent an alarming number of hours contemplating this statement. Does it mean that all gifts come from God? Perhaps it’s suggesting that what we treasure most is what we must be prepared to sacrifice (just as God gave us his son). Maybe it’s suggesting that the passion we bring to the quest for whatever it is we treasure most is how much we should love God – or one another.

Or maybe it’s simply giving us a way to understand how much God loves us – so much that what he treasured most, his son, was sacrificed for us all.

Barbara Davidson
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)