Ash Wednesday (2 Cor 5:20-6:13)  2/22/2012

Welcome to the season of Lent. And if your lives are in any way fashioned around the academic calendar of the town school system, welcome back from a long weekend. A long weekend, formerly known as “Winter Recess,” but that was before the events of October came upon us all, in the form of “Storm Alfred.” A time that was unfortunately longer than a long weekend. As I reflected on this coming season of Lent and the Scripture readings that we heard today, I could not get the vivid images of that storm and the many days that followed out of my thoughts. I began to wonder if the Apostle Paul had in some way experienced some similar type of event; an event that required “great endurance, afflictions, hardships, calamities…and sleepless nights.” (2 Cor 6:4) Paul’s life, the life of a first-century apostle in foreign lands, was likely not isolated to one or two of these difficult events, but these challenges were familiar occasions throughout his days. Today, we hear Paul sharing his experiences with the community in Corinth; his highs and his lows, his fears and his hopes, and ultimately, his love for Christ and his confidence that the road of discipleship to Christ will vindicate all the challenges that he has endured. The Corinthians were confused and conflicted; and Paul, through his letters, reached out to assure them that their thoughtful commitment to Christ and to each other was of great importance.

Paul’s letter delivers an important message to the Corinthians and an important message for us if we desire to undertake this Lenten season with intentional and prayerful reflection. Paul proclaimed that the time to be reconciled to God and to seek God’s grace had come; “See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way.” (2 Cor 6:2b-3a) Here is a lesson worthy of our careful attention: “we are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way.” The removal of all obstacles is one of the most essential aspects of an intentional and prayerful Lent. One of our challenges as we begin our Lenten journey is our ability to remove the obstacles that stand between us and God; and we are further challenged in our commitment to remain steadfast to our Lenten disciplines throughout this coming season. The horrible October storm that so disrupted our lives and ripped us apart from the conveniences we enjoy provided us a foretaste of how we might imagine our lives in a different way. Lent, of course, does not seek to spring upon us with terrible vengeance and destructive power, but Lent does seek to pull us away from the comforts we have built around ourselves, Lent is a time to put aside the apparent necessities of life that have become obstacles to our relationship with God. We are invited to change the familiar attachments of our lives with the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and reflection. Phillips Brooks, a 19^th century author and Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, spoke of the practices and symbols of Lent in his Lenten sermon, as he wrote, “let those same [practices and] symbols be likewise the means of opening our souls to Christ. For a few weeks let the obtrusive worldlinesses which block the door of our hearts stand back; and let the way be clear that He who longs to enter in and help us may come and meet no obstacle.”[i] As Brooks so beautifully expressed, may you find the strength and imagination to clear the obstacles that block you from God’s presence.

“See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation.” I wish the lectionary had added the next three verses of Paul’s letter, but since they did not, I will. Paul continued in his letter to the Corinthians as he wrote, “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return – I speak as to children – open wide your hearts also.” (2 Cor 6:11-13) As Paul said to the Corinthians, “open wide your hearts,” remove the daily obstacles that surround your life, that surround your heart and prevent you from opening your heart to all that God can give – an open heart is a listening heart. Lent is here; “see, now is the acceptable time.” May this Lenten season be a simple and quiet time of prayer and reflection for you and may you draw close to God throughout these days of Lent. AMEN.