One of the most significant parts of the Ash Wednesday
service is when the presider says to the congregation, “I invite you
therefore, in the name of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination,
penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and by reading and meditating on
the word of God.”
It serves as a reminder that the liturgical season of
Lent is different. Furthermore, it is not just on Sunday mornings that the
season is different. It is every moment of time from Ash Wednesday to Easter
Day that we take special care to be attentive to high expectations we place on
ourselves to be a holy people.
To observe a holy Lent is to consider who we are; to
consider those things about ourselves that are good and useful to the building
of the Body of Christ; and to consider those things we know needs changing so
that we can be better equipped to be engaged with God’s mission.
To observe a holy Lent is to be penitent, to be honest
about ourselves and to seek God’s forgiveness for whatever needs forgiving.
To observe a holy Lent is to pray, even when we don’t
feel like it, so that prayer becomes even more deeply a part of who we are; to
let every breath be a prayer.
To observe a holy Lent is to fast from those things we
know inhibit our ability to be more fully aware of God’s presence; anything
that keeps us from being more fully human.
To observe a holy Lent to give alms for the work and
ministry of the Church. In all practicality we need resources of time, talent
and treasure to do the ministry we’ve been blessed with.
To observe a holy Lent is to read and meditate on
God’s self-revelation as expressed in the Bible.
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