The Bishop and Canons are sharing meditations on diocesan life each week during Lent. You can read the Bishop's introduction from Ash Wednesday here. 

The Meditation

 "Is it okay to wish someone a joyous Lent?" A question asked rather regularly at this time of year.

The late Rector of St. Thomas' Church on New York City's Fifth Avenue, the Reverend John Andrew, was known for wishing parishioners a "costly and blessed Lent."

And recently the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said, "Lent is not 'a narcissistic festival of self-improvement', but must 'overflow in generosity'."

This holy season is such a rich mystery, defying any attempt to limit its meaning for individual disciples, for a congregation, for a diocese, for the Church.

In The Book of Common Prayer, the seasonal portion of the Eucharistic prayer, called the proper preface, sets forth a theme or major focus of each liturgical season. Perhaps because Lent is such a rich season, there are two proper prefaces, and in many congregations both are used. Often the first preface is prayed for the first three weeks of Lent, and the second is introduced on the Fourth Sunday, traditionally known as Refreshment Sunday.

The second preface, addressed to God the Father, reads: "You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you."  (BCP, p. 379)

The diocese is a community where preparation with joy for the Paschal feast is found in abundance. In prayer and in works of mercy where neighbors are loved and served, our diocese is indeed fervent, committed, unwavering. Nourishment for this work comes from breaking open the Holy Scriptures, the grace of the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, and the prayers we offer together, all in community, as one body engaged in reconciling the world to Christ as a community we call "diocese."

Archbishop Justin's call inspires and challenges and feeds me: Lent must overflow in generosity.

Baptism unites us to Christ and to one another, and fills us with joy and grace. The faithful response is generosity that knows no limit. Generous praise of almighty God for the new life we are given, and overflowing generosity in giving one's all to the mission of the Gospel, and over flowing generosity toward neighbor as we promise at every Baptism: "Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?" and "Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbor as yourself?" (BCP, p. 304-5)

The diocese, you and me and all our sisters and brothers, is a generous community, expressed in so many ways, locally through congregations, and together as our diocese. Together we embrace the Paschal mystery: Christ has died, Christ is risen. Together we die to self and selfishness, and rise to new life marked by generosity of spirit, resources, forgiveness, and unconditional love. This season of Lent is a blessed opportunity, as Archbishop Justin says, to overflow with generosity, and so, prepare our hearts for the Paschal feast.

Prayer for Generosity (St. Ignatius of Loyola)