March 2017
LENT - LET US WELCOME A NEW SPRING!
Looking ahead toward Easter we come to Ash Wednesday on March 1st. This formal service will take the ashes of last year’s palm branches, burn them, then I will make this into a paste to place the sign of a Cross on your forehead. This brought to mind a place in Paul’s writings to help us with this self-examinational time of year for Christians we call Lent.
If you will please read this selection of scripture through many times this month as you ask God to reveal Himself to you through it.
Ephesians 4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1st) and ends on Holy Saturday (April 16th). Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians. The first Sunday describes Jesus' temptation by Satan and the sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection (United Methodist Book of Worship p.320).
Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter; we confront our own mortality and confess our sins before God within the community of faith. The form and content of the service focus on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ (United Methodist Book of Worship p.321).
What does all this mean for you? Let me give you a scriptural answer from Psalms 19:7-14,
7. The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life. 9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true, each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (NLT)
May God use this time of LENT and these scriptures to grant you a deeper understanding of HIS desires? With this said, I pray you will allow GOD complete control of your ways. In doing so, I feel GOD will enrich our time spent together in worship and working to make our community a better place to live. Enjoy your Lenten Season. Have a blessed month of ministry!
In Christ Jesus,
Bro. Tony Antonelli, 2 Tim. 2:15