It is my prayer that our entire congregation will be present for our Ash Wednesday Service as we prepare for the observance of the Season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a time for reflection and repentance. After the week of horror experienced by our neighbors to the south, I believe this provides for us an important reason to take some time to spend a few moments examining our lives at the beginning of this Lenten season. There are many conflicts that try to crowd out observances like this.

 

At the start of his public ministry, Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth and publicly read a passage from Isaiah 61:1-2; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” He then said to the people gathered there, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This Lenten season is an opportunity for us to help people understand the scope of Jesus' ministry. The focus of the Gospel was for everyone, but Jesus had a heart for the poor and the oppressed. As a matter of fact, one of the principal hallmarks of the kingdom Jesus was announcing was redemption of the poor and their release from degradation. Jesus always reached out to those at the bottom of the social pyramid -- poor people, women, Samaritans, lepers, children, prostitutes and tax collectors. Because of UMCOR, we can help bring the presence of Jesus to the people of Haiti right now.

 

As we kneel before the altar this year let us focus on the tens of thousands of Haitians who have lost their homes and the many more who have perished. Let us ponder on the Cross of Christ as he hangs there for our sins. During this entire Season of Lent I invite us as believers to become renewed, restored and revived. 

 

Prepare now to come to our Ash Wednesday service where you will receive the mark of the cross on your

forehead. I pray for you that it will be a mark of grace. So let us identify with the people of Haiti. Because when we do, we too will come to truly understand that some things are and some are not. May this Lenten season help us to know the difference! Perhaps we too will be able to say; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the

captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's

favor.” This is our calling! And this is an important time in the life of believers.