A Season of Contemplation
Starting with Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent is a traditional time of contemplation, when churches the world over intentionally make their focus our need for repentance; a time when we pause to reflect upon the scripture “to dust you are, and to dust you will return”, and our need for a savior. It is a time of renewal. Liturgical churches often burn the palms from the previous year and use those to make ashes. In many traditions, the ashes are used to make a cross on your forehead. Whether Lent is part of your tradition or not, repentance and renewal are “always in season.” Theses are things that we as Christians need to have in our DNA – after all, we are HIS living letters. We reflect HIM.
In the BCP (Book of Common Prayer) The Collect reads:
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.
Romans 8:22-25 says:
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the song Brokenness Aside by All Sons and Daughters we remember that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.
The crucifixion and the resurrection are intertwined. Perhaps we can bring some of this contemplation into our day-to-day lives year round, along with the celebration of newness of life. I think we’ll listen to Gungor’s Beautiful Things too …