02/17/21 Sidney UMC – Ash Weds. Sermon
Sermon Title: “Humble and Repentant”
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17
New Testament
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Friends, brothers, and sisters, I have been blessed to have
been able to lead many Ash Wednesday services. Unfortunately, though, this is
the first time that I have had an online only Ash Wednesday service, due to the
Global COVID-19 Pandemic. This is also the first time that I have offered “Ashes
to Go,” as these were offered at the church today from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Since
I cannot impose Ash Wednesday Ashes on you tonight, except for the few of us
here, this is why I offered “Ashes to Go” today. This is also the first Ash
Wednesday service that I have had to impose Ashes with a face mask on, a rubber
glove on, and Q-Tip to impose Ashes. Certainly, a vastly different Ash
Wednesday than the previous ones I have had.
Some Christian denominations do not celebrate Ash Wednesday
or the 40-day season of Holy Lent that begins today. In the Bible there are many
numbered periods of time, such as Jesus being in the wilderness for forty days
and forty nights, and during this time, he fasted and was tempted by Satan. In
the Bible, we also have many incidences of 40-days or years. We have Noah on the
Ark for forty days and nights. We have the Jews in the wilderness for forty
years, and so on and so forth. Forty, like seven, and other numbers, are very
Biblical numbers.
This season of Holy Lent that starts today, is a 40-day
season, which is actually 46-days, as we do not count Sundays, as this is the
day the Christ rose form the dead. This season developed out the worshipping tradition
of the church, and it is not Biblically required of us. Yet, since there are so
many 40-day, 40-year, 7-day, etc. periods of time in the Bible, the early
Christian Church developed this season or period of time leading to Good Friday,
and then on to Easter Sunday.
So, the 40-day season of Holy Lent that we are starting
today, is a season that the church created, but it is designed to point us to
Christ. The Sunday in the season of Holy Lent, called Palm or Passion Sunday
developed as Christ entered Jerusalem that day on the back of a donkey, to the
shouts of Hosanna! Since the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples occurred the
Thursday of this same week, that many Christians now call “Holy Week,” many
churches have developed over the centuries worship and practices for Maundy or
Holy Thursday. Maundy or Holy Thursday is Thursday April 1st this
year, as this is a service where we will retell the story of the Last Supper,
where Jesus gives us the sacrament of Holy Communion, where Jesus gives us the
gift of foot washing, and where Jesus gives us the Mandate, or the “Mandatum,”
or the “Maundy” to love each other. Good Friday of course is a service to remember
Jesus’ trial, torture, and death on a cross for our sins. All of these services
and rituals developed out of the worshipping tradition of the church.
As I said once again, none of these services, these
practices, or the season of Holy Lent itself are in the Bible, but once again they
developed out of the worshipping tradition of the church. These services, this
season of Holy Lent, and these practices were designed to inform our faith, to
support the Bible, and to draw us closer to God in Jesus Christ.
Over the centuries, the first day of this season of Holy Lent
eventually became unique in that it involved ashes. In some country’s ashes are
imposed on the forehead like we do here in America, and in some countries, ashes
are sprinkled on people’s heads, or are imposed in some other way. The ashes offered
this day do not give us magical powers and we are not required to receive them.
These ashes are a merely a symbol for us and for the world, that we are
followers of Jesus Christ. These ashes show us and the world, that we are
repentant, that we need Jesus, and that we are entering into this season of
Holy Lent to draw closer to our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Throughout the worshiping tradition of the Christian Church,
it eventually became a tradition of the people of the church to give up or give
away things in this holy season. For example, what do we have too much of that
we can share with others? What in our life is a wall or a stronghold keeping us
from God? For example, if you have anger problems, and if this keeps you from
getting closer to Christ, then maybe you need to give up Anger. Some people give
up things like Chocolate or something fun, not to torture themselves, but to remind
us of who Jesus is and what he is going to do for us all on the cross on Good
Friday. This 40-day season of Holy Lent then, is a season of repentance, of humility,
of self-examination of our lives and our souls, and an opportunity to give up
or give away. All of this is designed to draw us closer to Christ, and to
remove the things in our life that keep us from being closer to him. So, on this
Ash Wednesday, this first season of Holy Lent, I would challenge you, as I challenge
myself to give up and give away those things you do not need, or those things
that keep you from getting closer to God, through Jesus Christ. As I said, I
also do not think that in this holy season that we need to torture ourselves or
to hate ourselves, as this season is designed to bring us closer to Christ. I
encourage us all to pray to fast, to read the Bible, to give, to abstain, and to
draw closer to Christ.
I also think that for many of us, this is the first Ash
Wednesday in our lifetimes where what we have given up and what has been taken
from us, as people, as a country, and as a world, has been so great. We know
loss in a profound way through this Global Covid-19 Pandemic. We know the loss
of loved ones, of getting sick, the loss of a job, the loss of income, the isolation,
the fear, the anxiety, the thankfulness that we did not cancel our Netflix
account, etc. If this 40-day season is about us walking the road to the cross
with Christ, then maybe this is the first Ash Wednesday where we can really
understand sacrificing, abstaining, and giving, as real and powerful spiritual
disciples. We are called to do all of these things to draw us to Christ, and to
show us, even in a small way what Jesus experienced and suffered for us. So
maybe this Ash Wednesday is different, as we all have given up, abstained, sacrificed,
and have lost so much through this time of pandemic.
As
a result of all of this, as my sermon title for tonight says, I come to worship
this evening “Humble and Repentant”. We have all experienced and or seen a lot around
this Global Covid-19 Pandemic, and some of us have even lost family and friends
to this pandemic. We are always called to come to Ash Wednesday worship being repentant,
reflective, and seeking God, but this year it seems that many of us might be
extra “Humble and Repentant”. I know that I am.
In
our reading for this evening from Psalm 51:1-17, King David is asking God to
forgive him, to cleanse him, and to blot out his transgressions and his wrong
doings. King David asks God for forgiveness, for a clean heart, and asks for God
to help him live for him (Ps. 51:1-17, NRSV). Maybe this year, this Ash Wednesday
2021, and this season of Holy Lent 2021, are ones where can relate to this
scripture from Psalm 51 from tonight, even more.
In
our reading for tonight from 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, the Apostle
Paul tells us that we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us to
be reconciled to God, as Christ who had no sin, will on Good Friday die for our
sins. Paul also says that as Christians and as people that sometimes we suffer
for our faith. Paul lists various ways that Christian at this point have
suffered. Yet none of our sufferings can compare to suffering of Christ on the
cross. During this pandemic however, I believe that many of us understand
suffering even more than maybe we have in a while, or ever.
If
we have suffered or are suffering, Christ who suffered for us, suffers with us.
So, while our suffering is real, and has likely been even more during this
pandemic, Christ is with us eternally if we but call upon him.
In our gospel of Matthew reading for tonight once again, we
hear about four different topics. We hear about giving money, praying, fasting,
and storing up treasures on earth. First, Jesus tells us to not to try to look
holy and righteous in front others or give money or alms so that everyone knows
what we give. Be holy and give, but do so for God, for Jesus, not for an
earthly reward or accolades from others (Mt. 6:1-6, NRSV). For the only one we
truly need to please is God.
Jesus continues in Matthew 6:16-21, telling us not to be miserable
when we fast. Whether we are fasting from food or something else, do not look
or act miserable just to try to show everyone how holy you are. Do it for God,
to draw closer to Christ. Likewise, Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on
earth, but rather store up treasures in heaven. Jesus ends this gospel reading
with a verse from Matthew 6:21 that really says it all. Jesus says once again:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
(Mt. 6:21, NRSV).
In our gospel lesson therefore, Jesus
is giving us examples of how to be “Humble and Repentant,” and how to be a servant
of others. I pray that tonight on this our Ash Wednesday 2021, and during this
season of Holy Lent 2021, and always that we might seek to be “Humble and Repentant,”
through our God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A blessed Ash Wednesday and
Holy Lent to you all! Amen.
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