Mother Martha’s+ Lenten Meditation---March 1, 2010

Submitted by Rector on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 10:07

 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8,9
 
Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Joel 2:13
 
These two Opening Sentences in the Daily Office of Morning Prayer are appointed for the season of Lent. Both speak to two hallmarks of the human condition (1) our tendency to deceive ourselves about the truth of our sins and (2) the necessity to return to the Lord again and again and receive God’s gracious Spirit. Yesterday, I attended the service in honor of Absalom Jones hosted by the Diocese and the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) at the Cathedral. Absalom Jones was the first African-American Episcopal priest ordained in the United States. I arrived a little late---and as the service unfolded, I gave thanks for the gracious spirit of the African-American people as well as the Anglican Church which I was proud to serve in South Africa. Despite hitches, absences and miscues in the liturgy, everyone was just glad to be together. There was a deep sense of reverence for the brokenness of human nature and an ability to take that brokenness into our souls and rejoice in what has been redeemed so far. Rejoicing that burdens can be laid down at the feet of Jesus. Rejoicing in how far we have come in reconciliation of the races and strength for the long journey ahead. I’ve attached my sermon from Sunday. Inspired by the frustrations that our snowbound challenges and schedule changes have wrought in our lives,   I hope that we all can find some of the gracious Spirit of God with one another in the days to come. That Spirit that was so in evidence at the Cathedral of the Incarnation Sunday afternoon.