PREPARING FOR LENT

Test me, O Lord, and try me;
examine my heart and my mind.

For your love is before my eyes;

As for me, I will live with integrity;
redeem me, O Lord, and have pity on me.

[PSALM 26:2-3a, 11 BCP PSALTER]

On this Shrove Tuesday we stand at the precipice of our 40-day Lenten observance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which begins with Ash Wednesday tomorrow.

Over the weekend, I read with great interest the first Lenten message of Pope Leo XIV, which encouraged Catholics to refrain from using harsh words against others ahead of Lent.

The message was riveting for its compelling simplicity and gentleness, all the while veiling a forcefulness that is much needed at this point in the chaos and confusion we are experiencing in our country.

The message was titled, “Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion,” and I would encourage you to click on the link and read it with the hope that it strikes you in the same way it did me.

It is noteworthy reading not just for Catholics, but for all people of faith.

I wrote elsewhere that the highlight paragraph for me sounded remarkably similar to St. Paul’s words in his letter to the Ephesians, verse 4:29, which is one of the anchor verses that serves to guide my life and my ministry.

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” [NRSV]

Here are the Holy Father’s words:

I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.

This is a major challenge for many of us, and I consider myself chief among sinners in that category.

Social media is my greatest downfall.

The temptation to “doomscroll” on my Facebook feed has been all-consuming at times, although I am getting better at avoiding it, especially in the morning.

Yet there is that little voice lurking inside my head that urges me from time to time to take just one little peek to see what the major topic of discussion is on a particular day.

I have to summon every ounce of restraint to keep from commenting harshly on posts with which I disagree.

When I give in I wind up feeling awful. It’s a constant battle.

That was largely the reason that several of the verses of Psalm 26 (see above), one of the assigned psalms for this Shrove Tuesday, jumped off the page at me.

To borrow words from James K. Mead, a Presbyterian minister and associate professor of religion at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, Psalm 26 (and I would add, these verses) “Bids us to seek that integrity within ourselves that lends legitimacy to our witness for Christ in a troubled world.”

The season of Lent into which we enter tomorrow reminds us of the seriousness of the sinful actions we commit, and the sinfulness of our human nature that gives rise to those failures.

But these forty days also summon us to acknowledge the truthfulness of our human condition, to repent and seek forgiveness, but not to wallow in our sinfulness.

We have confidence that God will listen to the psalmist’s plea on our behalf: “Redeem me, O Lord, and have pity on me.”

So we do not lose hope, because our God does not discard anyone, even though there is plenty to get upset and worried about when God looks at our world.

Yes, the ashes we receive on our forehead tomorrow will remind us that we are dust, and to dust we shall return, but they also assure us that we are forgiven by a God who loves us, and despite our imperfection, will not let us lose hope, because our journey of 40 days will take us to the cross, and the glory of God’s unending grace!

Let us pray:
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.
(Book of Common Prayer p. 264)

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NOTE: I will not be posting daily devotions during the Lenten season, but will continue to post regularly on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are plenty of other daily resources if you are looking for additional Lenten devotional material. I will compile a list and include it with my post this Friday.