Lenten Reading

I forgot what I was giving up for Lent. The first time. The second time, I remembered, a little bit too late. Oh well, I said to myself. Of course it was done and that’s no excuse, but it is an explanation. And, thanks to my Lenten reading, I am reminded that that is not what Lent is about.

Lent is about forgiveness. It is not, really, in its depths, about giving up, or taking on, something, some thing or practice.

And it is not even about screwing up when you fail to keep a holy Lent. If you don’t fail, even if you keep perfectly to your practice, it is not about that. Because life with God is not about screwing up or doing things or not doing things. It is about grace. 

I’ve just been reading one of Reyna Grande’s older novels, “Dancing with Butterflies”, which, spoiler alert, is about forgiveness.

Everybody screws up, fails, themselves or each other. Ultimately, though, if you reach out for it, undeserved, or even unearned, grace is there. 

We cannot be intact and holy in our own perfection. But we can receive the gifts of imperfection, of realizing we are sinners too - people in need of grace, always imperfect, but getting better. 

It’s about forgiveness. Give it a try. 

Reading for Passion

We often choose a study book for Lent. This year, during Holy Week, my personal devotions will be guided by The Cross and the Colliery by N. T. Wright (London: SPCK, 2007).*

Bishop Wright offers a sermon cycle on the themes of each day of Holy Week, from the Passion to Easter. In his sermon at the Eucharist on Palm Sunday, he suggests the figure of a four-part harmony to explain how we should see the Scriptures - and ourselves, in light of it.

1. The melody:  the story of Jesus from Palm Sunday to Good Friday.
2. The bass line:  underlying the gospel theme, the story of the love of God the creator for his suffering world, the Old Testament. 
3. The tenor:  the story of our own world, our own community.
4. And the alto part:  your own personal story.

So: the Gospel story, the Old Testament story, the story of our whole community, and the stories of our individual personal experiences: each of these is an essential part in the harmony we sing together as we embark on the pilgrim way of Lent. And it is the song we sing as we approach Jerusalem in Holy Week, bearing at first palm branches and human hopes, as we progress through the events of the greatest week on the Christian calendar, from Palm Sunday through the days and nights of the week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and at last the new beginning, Easter morning.

*published in the US as Christians at the Cross: Finding Hope in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus (Ijamsville, MD: The Word Among Us, 2007)

Forward to Freedom: From Exodus to Easter

You are invited on a journey of the spirit -

Forward to Freedom: From Exodus to Easter

David Adam has written a wonderful book for Lent. In a series of forty meditations, one for each day of Lent, he invites us to reflect on the story of Moses in the book of Exodus.

The people of God set out from bondage in Egypt to follow the promise of God to a new place. On the way through the wilderness they experience God in new and profound ways. The story of this great journey provides inspiration for us to follow the Israelites’ example – to launch out into new adventures, freeing others and ourselves from slavery and seeking God’s Promised Land.

Containing a Scripture reading, a short meditation, and a prayer for each day of Lent, this is a book to challenge our relationships to the world, to each other and to our God.

David Adam was vicar of St Mary’s Church on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, and writes prayers in the Celtic stream of our common faith.

We have chosen “Forward to Freedom” as our Lenten theme this year. We will use the book to start our conversations in the adult education hour between services. Please join us for the discussions – and consider making this book your Lenten reading for the year.

If you would like a copy of the book you may find one through a lending library or buy one from a used bookseller in person or by mail order. Look online (www.bookfinder.com).

–Fr. John, Eric Hanson, and Karen Ford

(Amazon.com lists many used and new copies at low prices; so does amazon.co.uk)

http://stalbansedmonds.org/2011/02/forward-to-freedom-from-exodus-to-easter/

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