Devotion - Monday, February 16

I want to use this morning's writing as an opportunity to get you thinking about your Lenten discipline.  The season of Lent served as the final 40 days in which persons desiring to make a public affirmation of their faith underwent their final process of discernment.  It may be appropriate, given the role of the church in the modern world, for us to use these 40 days in a similar manner.

What would it involve, for you to see this Easter as your first?  How would you prepare, should April 5, 2015 be the day that you would for the first time stand with the faithful and make your proclamation of faith?

These 40 days of Lent are to prepare us for such a transition in our lives.

Surely, over these next 40 days, you could read at least one of the Gospel narratives.  We are in the year of Mark, and while there are various interruptions, we will be reading from Mark for most of the year.  It would be a good use of these 40 days to read Mark, re-read Mark, and perhaps construct your own outline of the material contained in it.

One of the concerns in the sociology of religion is that most persons engage in acts of community service only when it is organized for them.  Surely, over these next 40 days, an afternoon or two could be spent assisting at the food pantry or the shelter for homeless or the restore for children.

How will you use these 40 days?  Will they be different from the remaining 325 in the year?

Now is the time to prepare.

Another part of the Lenten journey is pastoral conversation.  I make it a priority to visit with you, and welcome invitations to talk.  Together, we might discover your area of greatest strength and your area of greatest need with regard to spiritual life.  Give me a call.