The Rev. Jay Lawlor offers Reflections on Ash Wednesday and Lent
The Rev. Jay Lawlor posts a reflection on Ash Wednesday and season of Lent in loving God, loving neighbor, and respecting the dignity of every human being.
Lent is a time to strengthen ourselves to live more boldly loving God, loving neighbor, and respecting the dignity of every human being.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US, February 14, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Rev. Jay Lawlor posted the following reflection for Ash Wednesday 2018:— The Rev. Jay Lawlor
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a time of self-examination and repentance, and to reflect on our mortality and God’s saving grace. Earlier Christians observed this is a time of preparation for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those with “notorious sins” – who had been separated from the worshiping community, were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church.
Today, the season of Lent can still be used as a time of preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Promises. Many see the focus of Lent as one of individual fasting, reflection, and amendment of life. While this is true, for those who take Lent seriously, it is also more.
Lent is a a time to reflect on our individual and corporate (community and society) sins. We may be pretty good people on the whole, but none of us are perfect. We all fall short. We all sin. And sin are those things both done and left undone which separate us from being fully in right relationship with God and our neighbor. There are certainly many issues of violence, oppression, and systemic injustices which we need do better at addressing as people of faith.
Lent is a good time to recognize we have not done enough, to ask God to help us do better, and be about the work of doing better. Lent is a time to strengthen ourselves to live more boldly loving God, loving neighbor, and respecting the dignity of every human being.
Readers can view the original post, which includes the prayer "Marked by Ashes" from Walter Brueggemann, at https://www.therevjaylawlor.com/reflections-on-ash-wednesday-and-lent/
The Rev. Jay Lawlor
The Rev. Jay Lawlor
317-296-3852
email us here
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
