From the Rector: March 2024
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:11
Dear Parish Family,
In the Collect (opening prayer) of our Ash Wednesday service, there is a very bold ask for God to offer us “perfect remission and forgiveness.” You might have noticed, though, that this large request comes with our own agreement, as we promise with humility and intention to spend this season “lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness.” I’ve been pondering that personal promise, here at the halfway mark of Lent.
I don’t know about you, but to me the word wretched is pretty powerful. It’s not a word that feels good, as I reference my own words and actions. There’s not a lot of gray area with being wretched. And yet, it’s true. To be wretched, I read, is to be in an “unhappy or unfortunate state.” I suspect I fall into that state anytime I tend to believe I am in control of anything beyond myself, or that I have the ability to prove myself worthy to God.
Wonderfully, acknowledging our wretchedness, in the words of our liturgy, can be a right and good and - yes even joyful thing. For that is where God meets us. God takes us as wretched, rather than in any pretense we might to offer of our personal holiness or worthiness. In this season we come to God acknowledging the things we have done, and the things we have left undone. And then we prayerfully ask God to do something that only God can do - to create. In this case, to create within us clean hearts and right spirits.
Scripture affirms that we have all been created in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:26). There within us, then, lies that beautiful image - even when buried under our daily wretchedness. Thankfully, God can and will reach that image, if we are only willing to ask.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Let’s all use these few words prayerfully - as a daily guide through this season of Lent.
Blessings,
The Rev. C. Phillip Craig, Jr.
Tags: Announcements / Letters from Leadership and Clergy / Lent at St. James