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Season of Lent(NRCS Inspirational, February 18, 2015)

The season of Lent begins today February 18,2013 with the observance of Ash Wednesday, andtoday marks the first day of our observance inconnection therewith for this year. As the faithfulgather to commemorate the events that led to theredemption of mankind, the celebration becomes afitting occasion for us to share the significance of thereadings we keep for the days of veneration.

It is thus well to reflect on the following words:“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your

heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rendyour hearts and not your clothing.Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,

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slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relentsfrom punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn andrelent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain-offering and adrink-offering for the Lord, your God?” (Joel 2:12-14)

It is furthermore fitting and proper that in ourobservance of the commencement of the season ofLent, we share the words that the Psalter discloses forus to relay to our fellow observers of the sacrificeswhich the Lord offered for our salvation.

Thus: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever beforeme. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what isevil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentenceand blameless when you pass judgement. Indeed, I was bornguilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

“You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach mewisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shallbe clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let mehear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushedrejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all myiniquities.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new andright spirit within me. Do not cast me away from yourpresence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore tome the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners willreturn to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God ofmy salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of yourdeliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declareyour praise.

For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give aburnt-offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrificeacceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contriteheart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51: 3-17)

In fasting, let us be guided by what we have beentaught according to the words which the HolyScripture discloses to us:

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“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like thehypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show othersthat they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received theirreward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and washyour face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others butby your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees insecret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

But what does it say?‘The word is near you,

on your lips and in your heart’(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if youconfess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in yourheart that God raised him from the dead, you will besaved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, andone confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripturesays, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ Forthere is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lordis Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For,‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’(Romans 10:8-13, NRSV)

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On ReconciliationSo we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his

appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, bereconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin whoknew no sin, so that in him we might become therighteousness of God.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not toaccept the grace of God in vain. For he says,‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day ofsalvation! (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, NRSV)