The Bishop's Lenten Message

I am working at not re-inventing the wheel. That saying seems to be used more with every passing year, or at least it is used more in conversations people have with me!  Thus, when I am faced with an issue or task, I make sure that I search the web to see how others have approached the same issue or task. Some results are off base, and so I redefine a term or two. At other times results seem to read my mind and reveal exactly what I need to know. 

As Canon Amy and Canon Jason and I pondered what we might offer through diocesan communication this Lenten season, we of course pondered sharing reflections.  It has been my practice to share meditations in the past and we began to sketch a plan for this year's offering.  We discussed the various other mediations from noted authors and religious communities, and came to the conclusion that for this year we would not re-invent the wheel. (We will provide several fine links to such daily Lenten devotions to add to the favorites you already have marked.) 

Yet, the more we discussed and prayed about this, we learned something important. As we contemplated our particular roles in our diocesan community, it became apparent that few if any devotions are written from the perspective of the mission and ministry of an entire diocese. That is, many remarkable meditations have to do with individuals observing Lent, and congregations often commit to corporate study or times for prayer, or almsgiving directed to a church or community project serving others.  But, that's not quite the same thing as reflecting on what it means for a diocesan family to observe Lent.  So we asked ourselves, what would a mediation written with an entire diocese in mind look and sound like? And more especially, what would it mean for such a mediation to be written with the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Kentucky in mind? 

That is what we hope to express in the meditations we will share in the coming weeks. We found no templates out there, and even if we found a type like I'm describing, it would not likely apply to our diocesan community. We look forward to giving this approach our best efforts, knowing that we may fall short at times, asking for your prayers and patience!  But such is the process of discovery that led to the eventual invention of the wheel, and is a necessary of part of our corporate journey deeper in the heart and mind of Christ, and into our baptism into his death and resurrection. 

Ash Wednesday

The Lessons

 Joel 2:1-2,12-17(or Isaiah 58:1-122); Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6,16-21; Psalm 103
 

The Liturgy for Ash Wednesday is a jug of water for a parched soul, warmth dispelling the iciness of sin, sure and certain light scattering all of death's darkness. It places before us the opportunity to die to self in order to be raised to new life.  The psalms and Litany of Penitence will open our hearts, and the readings from Scripture will stir up in the desire to turn from sin and toward God. To turn away from thoughts, words, and deeds that separate us from God and each other.  As disciples of Christ Jesus called together into our diocesan community, this first day of Lent allows us to recommit to the responsibilities the prophets and the Lord Jesus taught as being essential for God's reign to take hold. 

At my ordination and consecration as a bishop in the Church of God, but especially as bishop with you, one of the questions asked me in the Examination was: 

Bishop:  Will you boldly proclaim and interpret the Gospel of Christ, enlightening the minds and stirring up the conscience of your people?

Bishop-elect:  I will, in the power of the Spirit.

I reread those promises I made to God and to you often, and early on I realized that the examining bishop asked about stirring up the minds of the people I would serve, but the conscience, the single conscience of the whole body of the faithul which is the Diocese of Kentucky. 

As we begin our Lenten journey, may we ponder what God is calling us to turn from, and turn toward, as a diocesan family. I shall devote study and prayer to what it means to boldly proclaim and interpret the Gospel of Christ. The bishop certainly has a role to play in diocesan life, but theologically as well as actually, it takes us all as the baptized people of God to enlighten minds and stir up the conscience of our community which must guide and govern and inspire us all to make Christ's life our own.  

What new life awaits us all, and what dying awaits us all, in this Lenten journey? May we boldly embrace a journey that we expect to change us. May we demand it of ourselves.  

The Solemn Prayer for Ash Wednesday 

 Let us bow our heads and hearts before the Lord. 

Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Christ our Lord. Amen.