ASH WEDNESDAY
MEDITATION 2003
Originally, the word “lent” meant Spring
in the old English. I don’t know why we identify spring with a time for
cleaning, but we do. In a very real sense, for the church and for her people,
Lent is meant to be a time of spiritual Spring
cleaning as well
This past week I did some Spring cleaning
in my home office. Debbie remarked about the improvement. As I though about our
observance of Ash Wednesday, I was struck by the similarity between what I did
in my office and what we are called to do in the 40 days which lie before us.
The first thing I did was to dust and to attempt to clean out the
cobwebs. Dust and cobwebs, they are the signs of neglect. They only collect in
the areas where there is no activity. There was little dust on the top of my
desk, but plenty of it on my bookshelf. There is no dust on my telephone, or on
my computer keyboard, but there was quite a bit in the corner where I stack
things I know I really need to do, but figure I can afford to put off for a
while. Spring cleaning reminded me of some important things I had neglected.
Lent is a season which calls us to clean out the cobwebs which
infest the corners of our spiritual lives and to shake the
dust off of our spiritual disciplines. It is a time which calls us to refocus
on things of God and of his kingdom. Lent is a time to begin reading God’s word
daily, a time to begin praying, not just occasionally, but throughout each day.
Lent is a time to make a commitment to regular worship attendance and honest
stewardship. Lent is a time for a holy dusting
The second thing I did in my office was to throw out a lot of
stuff. Some of it was just trash which I had been too lazy to gather up. Some
of it was things that I know I will never use again, but which I was strangely
afraid to get rid of. But I did and now I am glad. Now, for the first time in a
while, I know pretty much what is on my desk and what is stacked around my
office. And for the first time in a while most all of it has a purpose.
Lent is a season which calls us to throw away some of the things
which are cluttering up our spiritual lives. It is a time to take spiritual
inventory, a time to ponder whether there is trash in our lives that we have
just been too lazy to throw away. Lent is a time for us to just get rid of some
of the stuff in our lives that we know is of no real use, but which we have
been afraid to get rid of. Lent is a season which calls us to dispose of the
clutter in our lives, so that we might concentrate on the things that are most
important.
The last thing I did in my office was to reorganize some things.
Some files needed to be combined so that I could find information more readily.
Some important things needed to be given more prominent places, while some less
important ones needed to be moved to the side.
Lent is a time for us to empty ourselves and to be refilled,
putting the big things into our lives first.
In a moment you will be invited to come forward and to have ashes
imposed on your forehead. You will be reminded that you are mortal, you will be
encouraged to repent and admonished to trust God as you believe the wonderful
promises found in his gospel.
As you leave the altar, and then the sanctuary
this evening, I
challenge you to covenant with God to make these next 40 days a time of
spiritual preparation. Perhaps you will give up something or take on some new
discipline. Maybe you will commit to begin some acts of charity. Or perhaps you
will pledge to mend some broken relationships. I do not know what discipline
you need to take up this season, but God does. And he calls you to do some
spring cleaning. To dust off some things that have been neglected, to throw
away some things that are of no lasting value, to reorganize your hectic life,
and to prepare yourself for a fresh coming into your life of the resurrected
Lord. For your sake and for the sake of the Kingdom, let it be so. In the name
of the father, and of the son and of the holy spirit.
AMEN.