Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Year 1, First Day of Lent
Uploaded on Aug 23, 2011
Song: Erez Yechiel - Psalm 95. (album: Hatikun haklali)
Category People & Blogs
License Standard YouTube License
Uploaded on Oct 27, 2010
Uploaded on Nov 3, 2007
First part from Orlando di Lasso Psalm 143, Vocalia Consort, Conductor Maestro Francesco Corrias.
Basilica San Giovanni in Porta Latina, Rome
www.vocaliaconsort.it
Basilica San Giovanni in Porta Latina, Rome
www.vocaliaconsort.it
Category
License
Standard YouTube License
Jonah 3:1 - 4:11
The central focus of the book of Jonah is not so much one of prophecy, but a narrative that reveals God's sovereign power and "remarkable" mercy through his interactions with a reluctant prophet. Jonah's chapter-by-chapter progression through flight, prayer, obedience and anger, exemplify John Wesley's description of a person who, in futility tries to serve both God and the world. "How uncomfortable a condition must he be in, who, having fear but not the love of God, who, serving him, but not with all his heart, has only the toils and not the joys of religion!" (Sermon 29 Paragraph 120)
Responding to the unbelief of his opponents, Jesus declares that they will indeed be given a sign: the "sign" of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-32). Judgement is coming, but so is salvation, Jesus implies, referring to the significance of his upcoming death and resurrection. The book of Jonah, then summons us as believers to examine our own hearts. Are we celebrating (and modeling) the generosity of love for all of creation? (John Wesley Study Bible, 2009. Abingdon Press. Introduction to the Book of Jonah, page 1107.)
Hebrews 12:1-14
Jesus is the capstone example of faith. The Greek reads "Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of faith," not "of our faith." Jesus' endurance on behalf of the disciples should fuel their endurance as well. The author encourages the followers of the Messiah embrace any hardships they endure on account of their obedience as exercises by which God shapes them to their advantage. "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed." (Ibid, page1495)
Here we see our lives through the lens of the Passion of Jesus, that comes in Passion Week beginning with the Hosanna's of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, the betrayal, the trial, the cross. All those things that must be born until the "sign of Jonah" is fulfilled, until through obedience Jesus is healed.
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went up to the temple to pray. Good works are good, but the heart of the true servant recognizes that even in our best deeds "we have done only that we ought to have done! "(17:10 True humility keeps no track of good works and focuses on confession and repentance.
It is traditional in the Church to humble oneself throughout the season of Lent by intensifying the disciplines of faith: prayer, fasting, Bible study, repentance, confession, simplicity, solitude, journaling... anything that brings one closer to God. The most common discipline practiced during Lent is fasting. Eating fish instead of meat on Friday. Giving up chocolate. Things that should remind you to spend time with God. More recently people have sought ways of "adding to" rather than "taking away." There is good habit-building that can happen in forty days (not counting Sundays) since psychologists tell us it only takes three weeks to break or establish a habit.
A typical Ash Wednesday service will contain something similar to the following:
Minister: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Minister: People of God, come now in the spirit of penitence, and receive on your head in ashes the sign of the cross, the symbol of our mortality, a symbol of the cost of sin, and yet the sign of our salvation and promise of eternal life.
Action: The minister places ashes on the forehead of worshippers in the shape of a cross; this can be done in silence or with the following words. If two ministers are imposing ashes, they can alternate the following phrases, without speaking at the same time.
Minister: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.
In the moments following penitents are asked to meditate. It is during this time that one shares only with God what one will do or not do during Lent to bring oneself closer to God so that through obedience we might follow Christ through His teaching, passion, and resurrection in communion with him. No one is asked to sign up on a white-board, share with their neighbor, instead maintaining the humility of the taxpayer - seeking the healing of the cross.
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