First Sunday in Lent, Ember Days and a Letter - 2022

 

The First Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 32. Beati quorum.

BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, * and whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 For whilst I held my tongue, * my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

4 For thy hand was heavy upon me day and night, * and my moisture was like the drought in summer.

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee; * and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.

6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord; * and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

7 For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found; * surely the great water-floods shall not come nigh him.

8 Thou art a place to hide me in; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; * thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go; * and I will guide thee with mine eye.

10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding; * whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, else they will not obey thee.

11 Great plagues remain for the ungodly; * but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.

12 Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; * and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 

{The Collect from the First Day of Lent is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.}

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 58.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 51, 54 | 119.1-32

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6.1-10

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 4.1-11 

Homily

 

Ember days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Here are the readings (morning and evening) along with the Collect.

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My letter to my congregation this past week:

Some time back in my morning Bible reading, two passages of Scripture were pulled together for me that I thought were encouraging, and it made me think of some folks I know. 

The first was Matthew 14:22-33. Immediately after Jesus had, from sparse resources, fed 5,000 men plus the women and children so that they “all ate and were satisfied” (20), he sent out his disciples by boat. It was in the thick darkness, with the thunderous wind and thrashing waves that Jesus came to his disciples, walking on the water. They were terrified by the shock of it all, and instantly thought it was a ghost they were seeing. Jesus then said to them, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (27). After Peter attempts to approach Jesus on the waves, the Lord enters the boat, the wind ceased, and “those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (33). 

The second reading was from Psalm 107:23-32. Here is a description of merchants traveling by sea who enter a horrendous storm that brings them to “their wits’ end” (27). They cry out to Yahweh “in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distresses” (28). He stilled the storm, hushed the sea, quieted the waters, and brought them to safety. Then comes the joyous refrain, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders” (31-32). 

The seas can be terrifying places, even when sailing on one of our giant cruise liners. When storms smash against ships, it feels like a fight for life; like the bottom is falling out and one is firmly planted in mid-air. The squall is all around coming from every side at once, disorienting and crushing; feeling as if at any second it will scarf one up, and swallow them down. There are incidents in our lives, moments when we feel like sailors and merchants devoured by a storm. And that’s where these two passages come home. 

The seafaring merchants in Psalm 107 were God’s people who knew to call upon the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The disciples in the boat were Christ’s disciples who worshipped him and declared him Son of God. If Yahweh can deliver God-fearing sailors through the raging tempest and Jesus can come to his own people and rescue them from the grinding storm and their own fearful dread, then can he not be with you in your devouring distress? You who are the dearly loved by God; you who have confessed with your mouths that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead; you who are “in Christ,” united to Christ; even though surrounded as you may be by thick darkness, thunderous wind and thrashing waves, see our Lord Jesus coming to you, and hear him say to you, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And instead of crying out, “It is a ghost!” call out to him: 

“Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.

Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.

Let all the tumult within me cease.

Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace”

(“Celtic Daily Prayer,” 38).