It was Lent! Did you Get The Message?
By: kcynar
03/27/18 01:37
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
The Lenten season ends with Easter services proclaiming that He has risen! It brings joy to our hearts and lifts our spirits. But the season of Lent isn't only Easter. It is a spiritual journey that extends for forty days and welcomes you to join. The question is ...Did you participate? Did you get the message?
This year many more Grace parishioners began the Lenten season by receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday than in many previous years. They are obviously getting the message.
The observance of Lent is not an obligation to your church. It is an obligation to yourself. It is an opportunity for a reflection on, and a renewal of your faith. It outlines the fundamentals and foundation of our Christian faith and helps to plant the seeds of understanding of Jesus' sacrifice for all mankind.
We say often how Grace is a family where we care about one another...not only the physical health and wellbeing of our fellow parishioners, but about their spiritual health as well. Lent addresses that spirit of faith in all of us.
Lent can be a spiritual journey for each of us. It is a time when we can pause and reflect on what being a Christian is all about. What are our Christian values? What is our purpose here on earth? What obligations do we have to others?
It is also a time when we renew ourselves spiritually. We are strengthen by the story of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the betrayal, the suffering of Jesus, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
We all understand that life frequently gets in the way of our obligations. But Lent gives us many opportunities to seek our inner selves and answer questions of faith and responsibility.
Ash Wednesday, Evening Lenten Programs, Palm Sunday, the Seder on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Stations of the Cross, The Great Easter Vigil on Saturday, and Easter Sunday are all opportunities for the reflection upon and reclamation of our faith. Those of you who participated in all or some of these events are to be congratulated, because by participating you did get the message.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
Others who could not participate missed a potentially moving spiritual experience. Reflect upon the message and find inner peace in its meaning...and remember Lent next year.
With Grace,
Ken Cynar, warden
Grace Episcopal Church, Massapequa
