Ash Wednesday (any year) Sanctification



Ash Wednesday (any year) Sanctification

2012


Lord, make us Ambassadors of blessings and joy! Our purpose as Ambassadors for Jesus Christ is the slow sanctification of the whole world beginning with ourselves. What is an ambassador? One dictionary definition that I like is this: “Any member of a particular group thought of as representing the qualities, traits, or habits of his group. (For example: A tourist abroad can be an ambassador of good will for his country.)” OR, a Christian, over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine can be an ambassador for Christ and His Church by his or her spirit of understanding, kindness, and love.


The gift of sanctification begins with the belief that the suffering and death of Jesus is responsible for the forgiveness and freedom of all humankind.


We are sinners; we have all fallen short of God’s expectation to love one another as he has loved us. And what is worse, we are all stuck with a deadly dose of self-centeredness and stubborn independence. 


But thanks be to God, by our baptism into the family of Christ’s Church we sinners are forgiven in the love of Christ, we sinners are sectored, reborn, and acquitted in Christ’s love. We sinners are sanctified and made right with God through the passion of our friend and rescuer Jesus Christ.


That is what our Ash Wednesday liturgy is all about. Here is the collect again:


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.


What is sin? Sin is anything that competes with or comes between us and the good news of God’s healing forgiveness and his life restoring love. 


From today’s reading from Joel, we see God calling us with open arms.


Return to the Lord, your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.


And from Psalm 103


Vs 3: He forgives all your sins

and heals all your infirmities.


V 12: As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our sins from us.


As Ambassadors for Christ this is what we believe and this is what we can say to our little corner of the world. This is how today’s Epistle read from the Message:


“Anyone united with Christ gets a fresh start, they are created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and Him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with Himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what He is doing. We are Christ’s representatives; we are Christ’s Ambassadors! We are speaking for Christ Himself now; become friends with God; He is already a friend of yours”


So, what do friends do? Friends share each other’s joys and concerns. When we do that with other people we call it conversation. When we do it with God, we call it prayer. When we pray, pray that we will see the world from God’s perspective. A perspective of healing, forgiveness, loving kindness and a burgeoning new life.


When we give alms, help us to trust that our gift will bless the whole community including ourselves.


When we fast, help us to discover that our inconsequential sacrifice can be redeemed into an act of significant blessings.


Lord, make us Ambassadors of blessings and joy!


Who has been Christ’s Ambassador in your life?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way

 Annual Meeting Epiphany 3 C Going His Way January 26, 1992 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell I’ve been a priest for 40 years and I’ve been to my share of annual meetings. To be perfectly honest, I have not particularly enjoyed the responsibility of standing in front of a widely diversified, and in some cases, highly opinionated group of vote packing parishioner who now have the opportunity to talk back. I used to have this nightmarish fantasy that someone would jump up at the meeting and tear into something, or somebody, or me with breath taking precision. It never happened. In forty years, it never happened. But I submit to you that chairing the annual meeting was for me an annual test of my faith. I can see our Lord smiling at me, a teacher of faith, and saying, “Remember: I am with you always… no matter what… even at annual meetings.” The annual meeting, as I remember, with the smallest attendance, was at St. marks in Evanston, Ill. There the Rector insisted that everyone read their r...
Read more

Epiphany 5 (A) Is There a Believer in the House?

Image
Epiphany 5 (A) Is There a Believer in the House? February 8, 1987 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell Have you ever been at a public gathering and heard this announcement: “Is there a doctor in the house?” Usually, hearing that means that someone is experiencing some kind of physical difficulty. We all hope that someone with medical training (a doctor) will emerge out of the crowd and do the necessary and right thing! Perhaps the most important role of the doctor or paramedic is to assume leadership. I am always impressed to see how much influence someone trained and confident in their field commands the respect of any bystanders. Good directions can prevent uninformed “helpful” suggestions, that are not actually helpful. Example: While I was serving at St. Mark’s in Evanston , a lady fainted while on her knees in prayer. Her limp body ended up under three pews. In the process of trying to get help to her, one usher suggested that we slide her body up to the front of the church. And no….no, we...
Read more

Palm Sunday C Irresistible Theology

Image
 Palm Sunday C Irresistible Theology March 19, 1989 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell The world seems to be caught up in a deadly argument. The greater the commitment to an idea, a cause, or a person; the greater the intensity of energy and power that gets mustered for battle.  A simple appeal for support becomes buglers call to make war. When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians , he was in Rome … in prison. Reports had come to him that two women had quarreled in the church at Philippi . Their argument was endangering the peace. His letter is an appeal to maintain the unity of the church. Not even the healthiest church is immune from the danger of evil’s energy unleashed. If the devil had his way, he would destroy all meaningful and nurturing relationships. In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul identifies three great agents of disunity: There is selfish ambition . Those who instead of trying to advance the work… advance themselves. There is the desire for personal pr...
Read more