Lenten Reflection 2016
 A Fresh Look
Some of the feedback received at Synod 2015 expressed a desire for our worship to be
more accessible. This reflection is an attempt to bring a fresh look at some ancient
truths expressed in our rich tradition of observing a holy Lent.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with an invitation,
“to observe a holy Lent, by self examination, penitence, prayer, fasting,
and almsgiving, and by reading and meditation on scripture.”
Lent is not a vain attempt at self-improvement by giving up
certain foods to make ourselves healthier or by taking on some
spiritual discipline to become more worthy of salvation. The
invitation to observe a holy Lent is about our own spiritual journey;
a journey towards intimacy with God, of being drawn into the very
heart of God and trying to remove the distractions which, “draw us
from the love of God.”
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It’s about the WORLD … It’s in our DNA
God’s immeasurable love calls us to return to the essence of
who we really are – created from the dust of the earth, a part of
God’s own creation.
We remind ourselves as Lent begins, “Remember you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.” In part, this is a reminder of our
mortality and need for penitence. But, there is great hope expressed
in these words too: that we are people of the earth, a people created
of the very stuff of creation. Every bit of creation is love by the
Creator.
We heed the warning not to spend the season of Lent going
around with our faces disfigured and parading our discipline in
public. That too, is not what Lent is about.
Lent is about finding balance between our physical and
spiritual selves, about continuing in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers. (see question 1)
Lent is about care for our bodies (washing our faces),
seeking balance with our neighbors, ourselves and with the earth,
it is about resisting evil and whenever we sin, repenting and returning
to the Lord. (see question 2)
Lent is about proclaiming the manifestation of God in
Christ, it is about seeking a justice that ushers in the promise of
God, and it is about proclaiming by word and example the Good News
of God in Christ. (see question 3)
Lent is about quiet, gentle acts of mercy and kindness, it is
about seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbour as
ourselves. (see question 4)
Lent is about taking care of others; it is about striving for
justice and peace among all people and respecting the dignity of every
human being. (see question 5)
Lent is about taking care of the physical world rather than
exploiting it, it is about striving to safeguard the integrity of God’s
creation, and [to] respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth. (see
question 6)
Often people choose to fast during Lent – that is to fast from
distractions, from all that separates us from the love of God. Thereby,
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It’s about the WORLD … It’s in our DNA
we are able to spend time with God in prayer and meditation and
have energy to help those who are in need.
Lent is a great opportunity for us to reconnect with who we
really are – creatures of God and we do this through self
examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and by reading
and meditation on scripture. This can help us to be drawn more
deeply into God’s love, and we come to the realization that we are
worth everything to God. We are made in God’s own image and
we can be transformed by God’s love.
The Good New we proclaim includes the Biblical
understanding of God as gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
abounding in steadfast love and relenting from punishing.
According to the Psalmist, “As far as the east is from the west, so
far has [God] removed our sins from us.” We are made of the stuff
of the universe, and God loves us, when we do good, and when we
mess up.
When we renew our Baptismal Covenant at a Baptismal
Service we are not only asked to reaffirm what we as Christian
people believe. There are six more questions that remind us what
we expect of ourselves as a Christians. During Lent, these questions
from the Baptismal Service are a good way for us to think about
what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ today.
The reflection questions listed here in this Lenten Reflection
also asks us to consider ways that we might better reflect God’s love
in our worship. Worship not only gives expression to our prayers
it helps form us as Christian people.
Reflection Questions
These reflection questions can be used in a variety of ways. For example:
 they can be used at a single event before or during Lent;
 they can be used by a study group throughout Lent;
 Some or all of the questions can be used.
1. If Lent is about finding balance between our physical and
spiritual selves, how best can we continue in the apostles’
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It’s about the WORLD … It’s in our DNA
teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the
prayers? How can we better reflect God’s love in our
Worship?
2. If Lent is about care for our bodies, seeking balance with our
neighbors, ourselves and with the earth, how can we
support one another in resisting evil and whenever we sin,
repenting and returning to the Lord? How can we better reflect
God’s love in our Worship?
3. If Lent is about proclaiming the manifestation of God in
Christ, what can we do to more fully proclaim by word and
example the Good News of God in Christ? How can we better
reflect God’s love in our Worship?
4. If Lent is about quiet, gentle acts of mercy and kindness,
how do we continue seeking and serving Christ in all persons,
loving our neighbour as ourselves? How can we better reflect
God’s love in our Worship?
5. If Lent is about taking care of others, how can we best strive
for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of
every human being? How can we better reflect God’s love in
our Worship?
6. If Lent is about taking care of the physical world rather than
exploiting it, how can we strive to safeguard the integrity of
God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the
Earth? How can we better reflect God’s love in our
Worship?
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It’s about the WORLD … It’s in our DNA