Re re re re re re: several Lenten Pins

Relief

The prefix RE means again or possibly again and again.  It may be one of the most powerful prefixes in the Christian lexicon.  As is evidenced by the whole week of RE words for the Lenten Pin a Day.  Again and again we are called to name regret, reject idolatry and shaming, to offer relief, to remember him in the breaking of bread, to experience renew(al), to honestly repent of the wrongs we have done, and over and over to return to his way.  A few quick thoughts about the week of RE.

Regret and Repent

The denial of regret in our culture is dangerous to self and dangerous to faith.  If we cannot name that we did something wrong, which we imperfect people do do, then something has gone quite deeply astray.  There is a difference between shaming and regret.  There is also a difference between getting lost in the darkness of regret and never turning around to the light and new choices.  However a culture without regret is a culture without the practice of faithfulness.

Reject

How does the practice of a Holy Lent help us to reject the practices of injustice and evil that seep into our lives?  What forces do you need to reject?  How does it change your perspective to align yourself with the one who was scorned and rejected?

Relief

Pop pop fizz fizz.  If only relief were so simple as a fuzzy tablet and an extended gulp.  Let us make a list of relief workers and organizations and bring them to prayer and action.

Remember

To put the material of the story together again in bread, wine and community.  We have been in an extended conversation about the use of local wine in the practice of communion.  In the middle of  red wine country it makes deep sense to me; but there is push back.  It is a reminder that in our remembrance, in our sacramental acts of union with Christ and each other we all bring such a varied array of interpretations, hopes and expectations.  It is a beautiful, if also complicated mystery.

Renew

Love.
Not the kind you see in the movies or hear about on the radio.
The real kind.
The kind that gets beaten down and bloody, yet perseveres.
The kind that hopes even when hope seems foolish.
The kind that can forgives. The kind that believes in healing. 
The kind that can sit in silence and feel renewed.
The real kind of love.
It's rare and we have it.
Chelsea Fine (Sophie & Carter) 

Return

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?  I will, with God’s help.  We were blessed by the annual visitation of our Bishop this weekend and therefore we were able to do the strange thing of Baptisms in Lent. As much as my perfectionist was disturbed by this notion I was deeply moved by the beauty and appropriateness of the readings on this fifth Sunday of Lent.  Ezekiel and the Dry Bones.  Lazarus called back to life.  Continue, Return, Proclaim, Serve, Strive.  Even when it twists your brain in funny ways, God calls us into life.