People's Prayers

Monday, March 28, 2022

Prayers of the People: Remember to Forget ~ 5th Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, April 3, 2022; Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-15, John 12:1-8

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters...Do not remember the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth... [Isaiah 43:16, 18-19a]

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed. [Psalm 126:4]

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things...in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own...but one that comes through faith in Christ...this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on... [Philippians 3:8b-9, 13b-14a]

Six days before the Passover...Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume...Judas Iscariot...was a thief. [John 12: 1a,3, 4a, 6b]

In the readings for this Sunday, Isaiah and Paul don’t so much remind us that we are to forget the old ways as things are being made new, but rather they tell us directly that we must look and move – straining forward as Paul says – to what lies ahead. We are given a way and a path with our faith that guides us to the eternal life we are promised if we keep our eyes on the prize.

We are nearing the end of our journey through Lent but much awaits us in the approach to Easter. While we know what is coming, obviously those reclining and serving at the home of Lazarus that night did not. A seemingly small moment at a gathering of friends was quite enough to kick off the deadly series of events that changed the world forever. The tension is building as if in a novel. Every thought and phrase expressed reveals a clue to what is coming – as if we didn't already know. Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany ~ a scant two miles' walk to Jerusalem. Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints his feet with an expensive perfume made of nard, the cost of which sets Judas off and the Gospel writer is very clear about the thieving Iscariot's character and coming betrayal.

The fragrant nard itself is symbolic. It was customary for the household to prepare for the feet of the guests to be washed as a practical and hospitable welcome. This particular perfume, however, was worth a fortune, as much as or more than a year's wages for an average worker and this gesture might have seemed quite excessive to anyone by normal standards. This anointing is to us, if not to them, also a symbol of the Kingship of the not yet Resurrected Christ. Jesus was clear that Mary's act of love meant more than mere hospitality; it was a foreshadowing of his soon to come death and burial. The ritual of burial involved precious spices and oils and the anointing of the body always began with the feet.

Pay close attention to the readings ahead. God is about to do a new thing again and there is much to hear differently and to learn anew.

Yes, in our day and time we know what is coming, yet let us remember to forget what we think we know about these readings and go forward into all that lies ahead, through Easter and beyond, as if it were new and now, to rediscover the path of our faith yet again.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, restore the fortunes of our souls as we renew our faith, and press on in this life toward the goal of answering Your heavenly call.

                                                      O God in Christ Jesus
RESPONSE:                  You have made us Your own

~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, guide the hearts and minds of all who govern across this world, this nation, and this community, toward principled, ethical, and humane action and legislation to revitalize every aspect of Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God in Christ Jesus
                                                       You have made us Your own

~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, kindle hope in all who are poor in body, mind, or spirit, and to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       O God in Christ Jesus
                                                       You have made us Your own

~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, may those who are grieving be consoled in knowing that all now returned to the prize of life in You, are celebrated with heavenly shouts of joy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God in Christ Jesus
                                                       You have made us Your own

~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                       O God in Christ Jesus
                                                       You have made us Your own

~ O Lord, our Way and our Path, enliven the spirits of those chosen to lead and accompany us on this mortal journey, sharing the joy of Christ, even in the darkest of times. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O God in Christ Jesus
                                                       You have made us Your own


The Celebrant adds: Almighty and Eternal God, release us from the false piety of righteousness, and pride in mere earthly achievement. Awaken us to the freedom of knowing and living each day in Christ, and the power of His Resurrection. We ask through Jesus, our Anointed Christ; and the Holy Spirit, Your Fragrant Breath; who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

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Monday, March 21, 2022

Prayers of the People: Ever Feel L ST? ~ 4th Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, March 27, 2022; Readings: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

The Manna ceased on the day [the Israelites] ate the produce of the land… [Joshua 5:12a]

Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away...Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD. [Psalm 32:1, 11]

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away...All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ...So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ be, reconciled to God. [2 Cor 5:17a, 18a, 20]

But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. [Luke 15:32]

In this reading from Joshua, the Israelites have finally found home. After wandering through the trials and uncertainties of the desert, where they were provided with the daily arrival of manna for sustenance, God brought them through. Even after the significant transgressions of their ancestors, they found themselves in the land of Canaan where the old manna was no more as they now ate of the new produce of the land.
Paul tells us that when we find our way to Christ, who is gifting us with the ministry of reconciliation from God, we become a new creation: everything old has passed away. Further, we are now ambassadors for Christ. In returning to the joy of forgiveness, we are now the vessels God uses to appeal to the lost in spirit, the displaced in faith, and those who have become complacent in their faith, to return and be reconciled with God.
Luke's Gospel gives us the grumbling Pharisees and Scribes complaining of Jesus' dinners with sinners, and so he told them about the Father, Lost Son, and Angry Brother, also known as the parable of The Prodigal Son. Of course, everyone everywhere knows this one very well.

For a fresh perspective try a role-play experience with it by choosing one of the three characters to inhabit. Read it aloud as if you are the lowly son and discover his feelings of hunger, fear, regret, and other emotions that may surface before and after he humbles himself and returns home. Then read aloud again as the welcoming father; know his tears of joy and relief at seeing his lost son appear in the distance and then discover the father’s feelings about his elder son’s frustrations. Once more, as the elder brother. Who of us cannot appreciate his feelings of betrayal, anger, jealousy? He's been steadfast and true and who gets the glory ~ little spoiled brother! How might the father’s love and compassion for both of his sons create a new and reconciled home? Turn your refreshed understanding into a new prayer.
As with the Israelites and the Prodigal we, too, are new, again and again, when we return again and again to Christ and repent of our sins and whatever earthly idols take our attention from the call of Jesus ~ not in despair but in the joy of finding cleansing and wholeness, feeling true of heart. God always welcomes us home and always celebrates our return, no matter how many times we wander off thinking we can manage everything on our own.
In the happiest times let us take care to remember that God in Christ is still and always walking with us. In the darkest times of life amid loss, regret, or hopelessness, God knows us, comforts us, and forgives us. God is never the one who turns away. Even when we can't forgive ourselves, we are forgiven and redeemed by God ~ so, if God forgives me, who am I not to forgive myself?

Ever feel L ST? We cannot find what we do not seek. Turn toward the Lord and you will soon feel FOUND, and everything old [will have] passed away. God in Christ will celebrate and rejoice when we who are lost re-turn ourselves to be reconciled, forgiven, and still and always loved. Our forever Home is always ready for our finding.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord, Most Faithful, when we seek Your mercy in faith and trust, we are found, forgiven, and reconciled by You and through Christ. Help us to truly embrace our calling as Ambassadors for Christ, encouraging all who feel lost to find themselves in You.

Loving, Patient God
RESPONSE: We make our prayers to You

~ O Lord, Most Faithful, infuse the leaders of our Planet, our Nation, and our Community, with the wisdom and understanding to govern all Your people with integrity, justice, and compassion. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Loving, Patient God

We make our prayers to You

~ O Lord, Most Faithful, restore hope and wholeness to all who are seriously ill, addicted, or victims of violence, and renewed energy for all who give them care. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

Loving, Patient God
We make our prayers to You

~ O Lord, Most Faithful, soothe the hearts of those who mourn, as all of Heaven rejoices that those lost to mortal existence, are now found with new and eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Loving, Patient God
We make our prayers to You

~ O Lord, Most Faithful, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Loving, Patient God
We make our prayers to You

~ O Lord, Most Faithful, may all who are called and anointed in Your service, seek continual refreshment in Your unwavering Presence, as they persevere in guiding us always to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Loving, Patient God

We make our prayers to You

The Celebrant adds: God of the Lost and of the Found, release us from earth-bound snares, bits and bridles, to be reconciled in Christ as a New Creation. Spare us from all that we think we deserve, to discover our selves, our hearts, and our souls freely at home again with You. We ask through Jesus, our Compassionate Savior; and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier of our Souls; who together with You, are One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, March 14, 2022

Prayers of the People: Persistent Gardener ~ 3rd Sunday in Lent, '22 Year C

For Sunday, March 20, 2022; Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

There the angel appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire out of a bush...the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed...When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush..."...Remove your sandals...for the place you are standing on is holy ground." [Exodus 3:2, 4b, 5b]

My soul clings to you, your right hand holds me fast.

[Psalm 63:8]

[O]ur ancestors...all ate the same spiritual food and all drank...from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ...Do not become idolaters as some of them did... [1 Corinthians 10:1b, 3b, 4b, 7a]

"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did"..."A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener...Cut it down!" [The gardener] replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down." [Luke 13:2-3, 6-7b, 8]

What possibilities does life hold today? Limited or Endless? Have I simply decided that I can’t or is it merely that I won’t? That is, has my finite mind has decided what I can and cannot do and so no extra thought is required? I can comfortably go through the day, the week, the month with the same old mindset of poor tragic me or even YAY, Fabulous ME, and everything in between. I can sigh away in the desert of my sameness or boast of my successes and post either and all on Facebook. And isn’t it always just a bit of a shock when someone challenges my personal and most-knowledgeable perspectives? Who knows better than me, especially about me? The lessons for this week remind us that even the most sincerely humble of us need to have our consciousness raised.

When he realizes that God is speaking directly to him, Moses is overwhelmed before the burning bush. Raised as a prince of Egypt yet knowing and clinging to his Hebrew roots, keeping sheep was the job he knew how to do quite comfortably, no extra thought required. Now God was giving him a task beyond his self-imagined abilities ~ Who am I to go to Pharoah? We can imagine the reluctance of Moses, with a speech impediment among other seeming limitations, to go back to face Pharaoh with outrageous demands. But God knew Moses better than Moses. And God assured him over and over and over that God was always present.

Paul tells us that God gave those brought out of Egypt by Moses all the spiritual food and drink they needed and yet, though filled with God's grace and goodness, many failed God through intentional sin and were struck down. By those being struck down in putting God to the test, we are given one example of discounting God’s instruction. Christ is the rock, says Paul, the Messiah that guides us all IF, we are open to the possibilities that not everything will be comfortable in this life. What are the oppressive pharaohs we have created for ourselves, the idolatry of gain or limit that we use to stunt our own spiritual growth? The key is: God through Christ is always present to help if we choose to seek him.

Jesus says that just because some Galileans suffered doesn't mean they were worse people than others and reminds the listeners ~ and us ~ to repent, to turn to God. Will we be spared hardship and suffering in this life? No, but intentional contrition and penitence, consciously walking towards God in what we say and do is what we are called to in this human existence. Even when we slip off the track, there is limitless forgiveness and patience in Christ once we awaken to and acknowledge our turn off the right path and then return to it.

The owner of the vineyard reprieves the fig tree and the gardener will work hard to save it from destruction. The tree will have to respond to the nutrients, the food and drink in order to be saved. Christ is our persistent gardener, always tilling and toiling to give us endless possibilities for eternal life. How will I respond? What am I willing to nurture and prune in my life to give my mind and heart to Christ? I have all the spiritual food and drink that I need.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God, our God, our souls were seeded with Your gift of Free Will before our birth, and Christ provided us with the spiritual food and drink to bring us to full flower. Fill us with the saving joy of ongoing repentance, making choices to prune our unhealthy branches, so as to bear the ripe fruit of Your love.

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

RESPONSE: Our Constant, Eternal Helper

~ O God, our God, root us so deeply in Your Holy Ground that we may not add to or be consumed by the violence and hatred of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and anything more that damages any of Your children. We pray for all who govern in this World, in this Nation, and in this Community to lead us out of inhumanity and injustice, especially: add your own petitions

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

Our Constant, Eternal Helper

~ O God, our God, nurture the hope of all who suffer with chronic pain, debilitating anxiety, or a frightening diagnosis, and revive the spirits of their caregivers. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

Our Constant, Eternal Helper

~ O God, our God, gather the grieving under the shadow of Your wings, as our faithful departed live again with contented souls, joy on their lips, and life everlasting in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

Our Constant, Eternal Helper

~ O God, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

Our Constant, Eternal Helper

~ O God, our God, we give You thanks for all those anointed as the gardeners of our spiritual formation. Grant them the tools to cultivate our hunger and thirst to reach for and cling to You, allowing Your work within us to sprout and thrive. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Loving-Kindness

Our Constant, Eternal Helper

The Celebrant adds: Lord God of the Past, the Present, and Forever, release us from the idolatry of the oppressive pharaohs we create for ourselves, that turn our souls away from Your constant Presence. Renew our eagerness to seek and follow Your instructions, that we may flourish in Your faithfulness as Your right hand always holds us fast. We ask through Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation; and the Holy Spirit, the Blazing Flame of our Faith; who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, March 7, 2022

Prayers of the People: All Us Chickens ~ 2nd Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, March 13, 2022; Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” [Genesis 15:1]

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then should I be afraid? [Psalm 27:1]

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me...For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ...Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven... stand firm in the Lord... [Philippians 3:18a, 19-20a, 4:1b]

Jerusalem, Jerusalem...How often I have desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you were not willing! [Luke 13:34b]

Before he becomes Abraham, the childless Abram, even with his substantial wealth, bemoans to God that his only heir is a slave born in his house. We remember where this story goes as God gives to the faithful Abraham the children he desires and the descendants that number as the stars. The message we are to receive is that through our own faithfulness and sacrifice, God speaks to us also when he says, Do not be afraid…I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.

The Psalmist echoes the confidence we can have in God and the comfort we can take in not being fearful in either the ordinary moments or in the extraordinary. God is the light in our darkness, our strength and our salvation in all parts of this life.

Paul is chiding the Philippians in this letter and warning them about their attachments to earthly things. He harshly reminds them, and us, that we must learn to recognize our own inconsistencies, divided loyalties, and the complacency that results in them, and us, being enemies of the cross of Christ. For those who are not living as Christ would have them live, their god is the belly. Paul’s true and heartfelt intention is for us to imitate his example and model our lives ~ as much as we are able ~ on Christ. We who are faithful will be transformed by the commitment to Jesus and, therefore, our primary citizenship is in heaven, rather than in this brief human sojourn.

Jesus speaks bluntly to the unusually well-intentioned Pharisees in a foreshadowing of the three days to come. The Pharisees were no fans of the Herod family and Jesus took their warning as sincere. He then gives them a message for that fox that lets them know that he has no fear of Herod, fully understands what is to come, and is deliberately walking into it all. Jesus scolds Jerusalem for her unwillingness to be gathered as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, as he would gather us. Yet the hope of things to come remains in his cryptic telling that he will not be seen until…

These readings tell us, in this renewing season of Lent, to be less fearful in our everyday life and not to seek God in the stuff of earth. It is clear, however, that while we are in this mortal moment, we have much to do. We are charged with being faithful, as Paul tells us, to live in, with, and as Christ did; we also are to speak truth to power as Jesus did with the Pharisees. Rather than chickening out, let all us chickens begin this week by chickening in to whatever comes in turning our lives to Jesus, willing to gather under his wings, and be a holy, busy, and faith-filled brood awaiting the Blessed…one who comes in the name of the Lord.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Lord of Light and Salvation, we look to You for the courage to release ourselves from the earthly traps and tinsel that beguile us into complacency of faith. Free us of the fear to conform our lives to Christ, standing firm in Him in this life, so to attain our place in the next.

O Christ, hear us

RESPONSE: Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, steady our hearts and minds amidst these unsettling times. Grant us the courage and fortitude to boldly bear witness to and proclaim the Gospel, upholding Your message of peace, justice, and humanity, to all Leaders and Legislators in our Country, in our Community, and across our World. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, hear us

Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, comfort all who are in distress from chronic pain, serious addiction, and mental illness; and sustain the hope of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Christ, hear us

Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, lift the weight from grieving hearts, as those we send ahead to Heaven’s eternal splendor, now live again where tears and trials are no more. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, hear us

Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O Christ, hear us

Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, grant extra strength and wisdom in mind, heart, and spirit to all who are ordained to the yoke of Christ as our pastoral guides, in triumph and tribulation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Christ, hear us

Have mercy upon us

The Celebrant adds: O Jesus, our Christ, blessed are You who comes to gather us as Your own brood, not as enemies of Your Cross, but with willing, faithful, and trusting acceptance in our citizenship of heaven, this day and always. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Advocate; and our Creator, Most High; who together with You are One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Ash Wednesday: Dusting our Spiritual Closets ~ Lent Begins ~ March 2, 2022

Ash Wednesday

The fronds from last year's Palm Sunday have been burned to ash. And while Mardi Gras, which literally means Fat Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday, has not been the usual carnival of food and parades again this year, many of us still may have had a good filling of pancakes, or candy, or some other pre-Lenten treat. Yesterday was also Shrove Tuesday as we are soon to be shriven, that is, absolved of our misdeeds great and small, if we present ourselves for confession, repentance, and penance. And now, Lent.
The word "Lent" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon language and essentially means "lengthen" as in the days lengthening in the Spring. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere, the days are shortening so the perspective is a little different. However, we who are Christians from the Roman, Orthodox, or Anglican traditions all observe the same 40 days of Lent. The 40 days and nights represent the time Jesus spent alone in the wilderness, after his Baptism by John, being tempted by Satan, in preparation for the official start of his ministry.
Sundays are in Lent, rather than of Lent on the Church calendar. A picky detail but if you've ever counted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter there are more than 40 days because Sundays are always a celebration of Easter.

During these 40 days, some of us will enter into a period of dedicated fasting, prayer, and self-denial. Some will give up things such as chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, some will take on activities such as daily meditation or volunteer work. Some will give up and take on. Some will begin in earnest and maintain their discipline and others will fall away in distraction or be a bit haphazard. There's no right or wrong way to do Lent when you are intentional about wanting to be closer to God.

Even if you are not a church-goer, or in a denomination that practices Lent officially, for someone who has faith, whose faith is shaky, or someone who wants to try having faith, Lent is a season to discover or renew a relationship with God. It is a time for reflection of our past actions, our genuine intentions for daily life, and the repair of our souls. Some will be marked on their foreheads on this day with the sign of the cross in the palm ashes, as an outward sign of our human mortality.

Whether one is Christian or not, we all know the expression Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. No matter how high one reaches in life, or how low, we all return to dust.

Lent begins...

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and help me find my way back to You. While I would like to show my good intentions by grand repentant gestures and worthy pious activity, I have to be honest here as I know I'm not likely to stick with a full on heavy discipline for 40 whole days. So, for today, please help me clean my heart and restore my soul in other smaller ways such as with patience to give up arguing a point on Facebook and take on being mindful of my thoughts, emotions, and actions while driving and in the grocery store line. Dear Lord of all Peoples, on each day of this Holy Lent ~ and beyond ~ let me understand and live into the words You have given us through Jesus:

"Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us."

Perhaps that could change us all for the better.

For all this we pray. Amen.

Monday, February 28, 2022

Prayers of the People: Be Tempted ~ 1st Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, March 6, 2022; Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13

Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and your house. [Deuteronomy 26: 11]

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall say to the Lord, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust. [Psalm 91:1-2]

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [Romans 10: 12-13]

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil...Jesus answered him..."One does not live by bread alone...Worship the Lord your God and serve only him...Do not put the Lord your God to the test." [Luke 4:1-2a,4b, 8b, 12b]

40 days and 40 nights thou wast fasting in the wild…tempted and yet undefiled. So goes the 19^th century hymn [#150 in "The Hymnal 1982" of the US Episcopal Church]. And so our time of 40 days and 40 nights has begun again; shall we be “undefiled” at its conclusion? Realistically, not likely. Temptation is a human foible and even with the best of intentions, we all – more often than we’d like to admit – fall prey to the allure of some thing or another, sometimes to especially unhealthy levels and to our own or others' detriment, or both. Yet isn’t our situation different? Jesus was tempted by the Devil, after all, with promises of earthly power and glory and authority. But do we dismiss ourselves from this self-examination because of our mere mortalhood? It would seem that as he was "full of the Holy Spirit," it must have been much easier for him. Yet this preparation for his imminent ministry, this long retreat, fully human as he was, was no picnic in the park. Sure, we might not be promised power and authority by a supernatural being, or spend all that time alone in a wilderness, but the pull to just turn toward the glitter of all that beckons, those idols we create for ourselves, can be very difficult to resist in our brief human journey. And that brings its own kind of wilderness.

The readings for this week give chapter and verse on how God hears us, shelters us, and saves us if we but turn toward the Lord our God. The literal translation of "repent" from the Greek is, at its basic level, to turn away from sin by turning toward God. These 40 days bring us the time to reconcile our earthly wants with our eternal souls. We are to clean out our spiritual closets and blow the dust off hidden temptations, overindulgence, and the shallow distractions that distance us from Christ. It's time to turn the light on what we hide from ourselves and re-awaken to the call of salvation. I bid us each, over these weeks, to worry less about what to “give up” and concentrate more on what to “take on” to discover what will turn us back toward our Risen Lord and Savior. Keep the word near you, on your lips and in your heart as Paul tells us. Prayer is a starting place, even if only asking “WHAT, HOW, WHERE DO I START?”

Jesus gave 40 days and 40 nights to his spiritual growth and strength for the beginning of his earthly ministry. Can you give 40 minutes over 6 weeks? How about 10 minutes 4 times a day? How much time is spent on the idols of our daily living, not counting work time, the phone, the tablet, the computer, social media, online shopping, flipping channels on the tv remote, etc. Take 10, in a quiet space – the morning or evening shower, that time in the other part of the bathroom – wherever. Take on a definitive, intentional, conscious turn toward the Lord by thought and by action, by desire, and most importantly by faith. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. What could be more important for those of us who call ourselves Christian? Here's a start, copy this onto post-it notes for the laptop, the refrigerator door, the coffee pot, or the car dashboard. Ask Alexa to read it to you at regular intervals, and take a long slow deep breath every time you see it, hear it, or say it out loud; this one line from this week’s Psalm: You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust. Got 40 minutes? We can always make time for the things we really want to do. We can easily blow 40 minutes scrolling Facebook, playing Wordle, or Minecraft. It’s time to be tempted to turn toward the One Who is calling. Give in.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Almighty God, Most High, as we enter the pilgrim way of Lent once more, let these 40 days and 40 nights fill us with unceasing prayer. Strengthen our souls to dismiss the enticements of this earthly life, and to proclaim, with faith on our lips and in our hearts, that Christ Jesus is our Risen Lord.

Jesus, Son of God

RESPONSE: Deliver us from idol temptation

~ Almighty God, Most High, grant us the fortitude of Christ in the wilderness to stand before the Powers of this World, this Nation, and this Community, to demand for all people the release from affliction, injustice, inhumanity, and oppression imposed by the evils of greed and corruption. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Son of God