Blessed Ash Wednesday

 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Joel 2:12, 13
Today is Ash Wednesday. To learn more about its history and observances click on this link.

The Bible readings that are read during Ash Wednesday services reflect the themes of fasting, repentance and reconciliation with God. See this link for the entire verses written out.

1.  Psalm 51 – this is a perfect prayer for those who need to confess and repent their sins. David wrote this prayer after he committed adultery.

2.  2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:10 - After repentance comes reconciliation.

a.  Vv. 20 Paul says “We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

b.  The reason why this reconciliation is possible is because as vv 21 says “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus suffered, died and rose from the grave so that we can be reconciled with God and each other.

3.  Isaiah 58:1 – 12 refers to the type of fast that is pleasing to God.

a.  No simple fasts but " to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

b.  Suggestion – this lent, not so much to give up simple things like soda or candy but to add things as well such as

                                         i.    Ears that listen – to God and others

                                       ii.    Eyes that seek to find others who suffer

                                     iii.    Hands that are willing to help others more

                                     iv.    Heart that is filled with God’s Love and Spirit which then will overflow with his love for others.

Transfiguration Sunday

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.  As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." Matthew 17:1-9 See also Glory of the Lord with Moses and Peter's memory of the Transfiguration

This passage reminds me of one Sunday in a church I used to attend. The services had been very special to me with God's presence always evident. One Sunday during the pastoral prayer, I forget why I did this but I peeked my eyes open to see if others were as moved as I was during the service. But, I couldn't see anyone. I only saw a white Cloud. I was surprised and thought maybe I have something in my eyes. So, I closed them, rubbed them and opened them up again - the white cloud was everywhere. I couldn't have told you what the rest of the service was like because I spent my entire time arguing with myself - was that really God's Shekhinah, his Cloud of Glory I was seeing or was it a new migraine aura [you wouldn't believe some of the strange things migraineurs smell and hear just before they get a migraine]? Finally my answer came at the end of the service when the lady sitting next to me sighed and said, "God was here, I have seen his Cloud." HOLY COW! I wasn't crazy afterall!

But then I had another shock when a second woman behind me said "humphf! He preached past noon again." That was it. THAT was all she got out of the service. How could woman #1 and I have seen God's Cloud while woman #2 only saw the minute hand past noon? I walked around the sanctuary and heard other similiar negative statements which left me confused. Why didn't they see the Cloud, too? When queried, the first woman's response was "that's because there is a lot of dead wood in this place."

That moment left an impression on me that has lasted to this day. God is very willing to be seen by people, but are we desperate enough to want to see him? Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." The people who were not seeking God that day in church, never saw him. And I can understand why...afterall, why bother showing yourself to people who aren't interested in seeing you in the first place? But to those who came seeking and desperately needing to be with God that day, he revealed himself in a way that will never be forgotten.

Today, being Transfiguration Sunday, I sat in church and thought about the signifance of what Peter and then I later saw. I realized that something spiritually significant didn't only occur when Jesus' appearance changed that day, or when the interior of the sanctuary in my church changed. It also occured by the change in Peter's heart & spritual perspective as well as mine.

Thinking how Peter and I were changed about our experience, it made sense to celebrate the Transfiguration before we head into Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Easter is when we celebrate Jesus' power over sin and death through the Ressurection. Jesus came to forever transform us into Christlike disciples. He came to change all of us into people freed from the power of sin and death. We no longer have to live in bondage!

As I thought about all that God can do, my spiritual eyes started to see not just more 'transfigurations' but transformation around me. I saw increasing hope, faith, love around me. I saw beginnings of desperation for God in people around me and a real sensitivity to the move of the Spirit. As he did with me today, ask God to change and transform your heart as well as open your eyes to see how he is working in the lives of others. What better way is there to enter this season of Lent, Easter and Pentecost?