A Service of Self Guided Reflection
What would you have God change in you?
What would God want to see you change?
When we enter the season of Lent with these twin questions positioned as the main emphasis of Lent we are better able to find a renewed spirit to carry us along on the journey called life in Christ.
May this be a starting place in your journey.. The readings are those used on Ash Wednesday but can be referred to throughout the season of Lent.
Opening prayer
O God, maker of every thing and judge of all that you have made,
from the dust of the earth you formed Adam,
and from the dust of death you would raise us up.
By the redemptive power of the cross,
create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit,
that we may turn from our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Lesson Joel 2:1, 12-17
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”Psalm 51
“O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer, come and listen to me”
The Psalmist writes “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless in your judgment.” Human standards cannot come anywhere near the standards of Holiness that God holds. Knowing God to be perfect in all actions of first creating order out of the Chaos of the universe, we can fall into despair at our inability to achieve perfection. Should we then give up in such pursuit?
No.
Let us never give up in our pursuit of the perfection of Christian Love. Instead of despair, let us draw ever more closely to God through personal and social holiness. Because God has demonstrated love for all creation, we can take heart in the message of the gospel, and follow the advice that comes to us through the Gospel of Matthew.
Gospel Lesson Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Recalling again the twin focus for the season:
What would you have God change in you?
What would God want to see you change?
May you be renewed in spirit, finding peace and joy in the ever changing journey of devotion to Jesus, bringing glory to the One True God.
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