|
The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lessons
Isaiah 58:1-12;Psalm 103; II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
The Meditation
The collect for this holy day was authored by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and thus was "new" to the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549. Cranmer's prayer differed from the Sarum collect which was used throughout much of England at the time, in that he emphasized penitence rather than the fast.
(Hatchett, Commentary on the American Prayer Book, p.173)
A change of heart is what God calls us to seek. A fast can certainly lead us to such conversion, be it fasting from empty pleasures or fasting from attitudes and actions that do not further God's reign in our lives and in the lives of others. The Church of Cranmer's day was likely more familiar with fasting as abstinence than we are today, thus the Archbishop sought to move the seasonal focus from fasting to conversion and amendment of life.
Conversion flows from being truthful about my own sin and about God's almighty power to show mercy and forgiveness. I think it is also about recognizing and confessing the Church's sin and asking God to forgive the Body of Christ of which I am a part, leading us all to a converted life. Isaiah's bold call proclaimed in the first reading is as relevant today as it has been in every age, in every place.
The ashes traced upon us and the Church on this day call us to die to that which is not of God. Bearing these ashes we confess our sins and stare into the eyes of Christ as he stares into our heart. We are given a new and contrite heart, perfect remission and forgiveness. The God of all mercy, desiring that we turn from sin and live, invites us and the Church to a deeper life in Christ Jesus, producing the fruits of converted lives. "Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Hymn 149
 | | Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church |
Let us pray:
God, give us grace, this coming Lent, so to lay to heart our ways, that we may weary of all which is not His, from Him, to Him: and may, through Him, the Living Way, by new love and obedience, attain to Him, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, is the End of our being, the Fulness of bliss of all creation, 'the Eternal Infinite Truth, the origin, fountain, measure, end, and cause of all created truth,' the ever-blessed, beatific Life; to which He, of His mercy, bring us sinners, to Whom be all glory and thanksgiving and adoration and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.
(The Rev'd E.B. Pusey, 19th century Anglican priest, theologian, and scholar.)
Solemn Prayer (may replace the Trinitarian Blessing in Lent)
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.
|
