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Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
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First Sunday of Lent |
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February 25, 2007 Why Lent? Perhaps you are new to the practice of Lent. If so, you may wonder, why Lent? It is true that the Bible says nothing of Lent, but it does in many places encourage turning to God. The Christian goal is to spend every day in the closest devotion and fellowship with God. In practice, other things often crowd out this goal. It is important, therefore, to set aside time for the specific purpose of reconnecting to God. Some traditions do this through Revival Meetings. Some use religious retreats and conferences. We in the Anglican Orthodox Church do this in the forty days prior to Easter, the time called Lent. In Old Testament times it was the custom to “rend” or tear one’s garment in time of great sorrow. The loss of someone or something close and dear would be such an occasion. Of course, the realization of one’s sin is also such an occasion. The grief of it, the knowledge of its wickedness, would be enough to cast the soul into the deepest mourning. Consequently, deep repentance was often symbolized by this rending of garments, and this came to be expected at certain times, by the Hebrew people. But we all know it is possible to rend one’s garment, yet have absolutely no intention or desire to repent of sin. Thus our Lord says through the ancient prophet Joel, “rend you hearts, and not your garments.” I think one of the great problems people have with Lent today is that they see many people keeping the outward forms of Lent, but completely devoid of a spirit of prayer and seeking God. They are rending their garments, but not their hearts. It is for them, simply another pretty festival designed to make people feel good without leading them to the cross of Christ or the cross of discipleship. Many in evangelical churches think we believe certain Lenten ceremonies, such as the imposition of ashes, actually make us right with God quite apart from the blood of Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth in the Anglican Orthodox Church or in Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Christ alone is our Saviour. Christ alone can cover our sins and make us right with the Father. No ceremonies of man can ever do, or improve upon, the finished work of Christ. Nor is Lent an attempt to do so. Lent is a time to seek God; a time to make holiness our priority. There are two aspects of Lent. The first is turning away from sin. The biblical word for this is “repentance.” Perhaps “turning away” is not a strong enough word. Renouncing may describe it more accurately. In contemporary lingo we might say, “trash it.” Throw it into the garbage can. The word really means to turn around. It means to change the direction of life. If we think of this in terms of a journey, we can imagine being side- tracked on occasion; getting lost or otherwise off course. When that happens a change of direction is necessary to get us to our destination. Likewise in life, we often get off course. We follow our sins and worldly goals, which lead us away from God, and we need to change our direction, and turn back to God. Lent is a time to change direction. The second aspect is turning to God. Our goal is single-minded devotion to God. If we are going in the wrong direction, it is not enough to simply change to another course. Imagine you are sailing a boat in the Chesapeake Bay As you leave your marina and get into open water you head due north. You are having a great time, but after several hours, you realize it is time to go home. Now, if you want to go back to your marina, it is not good enough to turn your boat northeast. You must get on the correct course to reach your port, and that would be due south. Likewise, in repentance, it will not do to turn away from one sin only to embrace another. It is not enough to turn from a life of wantonness and debauchery to one of outward respectability. Nor is it enough to turn away from shady business practices to honorable labor and industry. In these things we simply rend our garments. But God requires us to rend our hearts. We must change our insides. If we imagine our lives as castles, and our hearts as thrones, we may legitimately ask who rules the castle? Who sits on the throne of our lives? In sin we rule. We make the decisions. We chose the life orientation. In true repentance, we dethrone ourselves and enthrone God. He becomes our King, our Sovereign, our ruler. Lent is a special time spent intentionally enthroning God. So, whether you are new to Lent, or an old hand at it, allow me to extend this invitation to join us in the days between now and Easter Sunday in an holy Lent. Turn aside from other pursuits, and make holiness your goal. Repent of sin and turn to God. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. R. Dennis Campbell, Vicar, Holy Trinity Anglican Church,
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