Sacred Space

One time a week during Lent we'll send a message to our ZOE-Wineskins list, showing you good resources that help prepare our lives for receiving Christ in Easter celebration - that's what Lent is all about.

So this week we're bringing you Lent reflections from Sacred Space and using them by permission. I bought the small book and have been "enjoying" it. I heard of an old Catholic mother who said, "If you're enjoying Lent, you're doing it wrong."

A friend once said the difference between happiness and joy is that joy comes through suffering and happiness is attempted by avoiding suffering.

Sacred Space Lent page is excellent. After you read this short summary they provide of what it means to prepare for Easter, I encourage you to go to Sacred Space Lent page and use this excellent resource. If you contact them, please let them know you heard about Sacred Space from Wineskins.



Greg Taylor
managing editor
www.wineskins.org




Click here to see Sacred Space Lent page

In summary, the Lenten preparation for Easter could be summed up in these points:

* Lent is about turning back to God; God is always turned towards us and looking for contact and communication ("Turn to me and be saved," Isaiah 45:22).

The Israelites in the desert were forgetful and had to be reminded by Moses about all the good things God had done for them (Deut 26:1-11). We need to take time to remember how lucky we are, to consider what God has done for us and to appreciate the blessings that are ours.

* God's promise is one of Good News - 'Gospel' - of 'good things' for us, a better life and more fulfilment; i.e. being led out of 'slavery' (sin as 'slavery' to lesser goods) and into the fullness of life in God.

* Reconciliation, or healing our life, is possible only through realising that we are forgiven, even though we don't deserve it. We can recall the story of the Prodigal Son, the classic Lenten text, in the light of God's great love for us through Christ, his amazing love & self-gift. (The Gospel of the Prodigal Son - Luke 15:1-32 - is read on 18 March this year).

* Inevitably Lent involves commitment to change, through this free gift of God's love; a conversion of heart and priorities that will mean decisions and doing things differently.

* Easter Sunday will then take on its fuller meaning: that we have died with Christ on Good Friday to our 'old selves' and destructive ways, and have been 're-born' on Easter Sunday with Christ to a new life in him. Easter always has strong echoes of Baptism for us as we touch the water, hear the words and celebrate with our communities.

Recognizing Your Face

When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."

Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?"

The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

Prayer
This message is so simple, Lord. You will judge me on my love and service of others. you are there in the poor, the sick, the prisoners, the strangers. May I recognize your face.

Sources: Scripture text from Contemporary English Version, prayer comes from Sacred Space.