February 25, 2007 Sermon
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Lent 1 – C 2007
February 25, 2007 Allan Conkling
If you like traditional things, this is about as traditional Episcopalian as you can get…reciting the Great Litany on the first Sunday in Lent. The Litany was written as a special supplication for Henry VIII when England was at war with France. By the looks of the things we prayed for, Henry had lots to worry about! Many things have changed in the last 463 years, but one thing that always remains the same: our need to continually pray for God’s abiding presence in times of prosperity and adversity. “We beseech thee to hear us good Lord.”
As Christians we know that God does hear us, and that God does deal kindly with us. In fact there is nothing we can ever do; no calamity which could ever befall us, that would ever stop God from loving us. That is the testimony of the ancient Jewish faith (seen in the OT reading today), and is affirmed definitively by Paul (in the NT reading): “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (healed, made whole).” The story of Jesus in the wilderness (today’s Gospel reading) brings the point home—that Gods steadfast love and the power of Christ can overcome any adversity. Jesus passed the test and is the hero of the story. He is our rock when the rest of the world lets us down.
Having said that let me also say that it is essential for us to claim those promises. Reciting the prayers of the Great Litany does us little good if in fact we don’t believe God is truly active and cares about us. They are just dusty old words from a faith long gone if we also don’t desire live our faith daily, to give God a place in this church, in our family, in our jobs, at school. Is God actively sought to engage your feelings of fear, despair, loneliness, and isolation we all face as people of the modern world? Is God called upon to help us battle the demons of self-centeredness, arrogance, and inhumanity to our fellow human beings in our own lives, and in our nation? Is Christ’s power brought to bear in the battle with those age-old demons of pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth? If not then what is the point of being here?
During these 6 weeks of Lent we are called to do two things: First we are called to look inward: to dig deep and open our hearts by prayer and reflection…and second, to outwardly change our lives, by fashioning ourselves after the image of Christ. Simply “giving up things,” like chocolate & sweets, is not where the true value of Lent is found. For the next several weeks we are being given an opportunity to think bold, new thoughts; to consider how Christ is, and can be victor, the “hero” in our lives today. Then by God’s grace, to live our lives as though we mean it.
There are many times in life when we find ourselves spiritually sidetracked. Having a season like Lent, and a church like Emmanuel with our wonderful, old-fashioned traditions and Bible stories to come back to, can help us reconnect with the things that we know matter the most.
So take this Bulletin and keep it with you this week; take the Litany and put it on your Fridge. Make it your goal to trust in the One in whom the final victory lies.
Copyright © 2003 Emmanuel Episcopal Church. All rights reserved.
Revised: 03/12/07