ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION 2014

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+

Azaleas Hidden in The Woods

Ash Wednesday Meditation

the first day

of the Pre-Passover Preparations 

for the sacrifice of the Passover LAMB+

commonly known as "Lent"

The Collect from 

The Book of Common Prayer... 

Almighty and everlasting GOD, 

Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made, 

and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, 

that we, 

worthily lamenting our sins 

and acknowledging our wretchedness, 

may obtain of THEE, The GOD of all mercy, 

perfect remission and forgiveness; 

through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. 

Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:11

For the Life of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an ATONEMENT for your souls; for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+

RESPONSE: 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,

to receive power and riches and wisdom 

and strength and honor and glory 

and blessing! 

Amen. 

Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:9,10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent to be well pleasing to HIM+.  

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

QUIETUDE: A time to repent.

RESPONSE:  

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

CHRIST, have mercy upon us. 

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

And let not the enemy exact upon us, 

for our trust is in THEE+. 

AMEN.

The GOSPEL Lesson: Mark 9:43- 44  ~ ~ ~ 

The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~ 

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 

It is better for you to enter into LIFE maimed, 

rather than having two hands, 

to go into Hell, 

... into the fire that never shall be quenched, 

... where their worm dieth not 

and the fire is not quenched."

The WORD of The LORD.  

THANKS BE TO GOD !

Meditation ~ ~ ~

Just how AWFUL is sin ... to you ? Your sin is worse than others' sins, you know.  Do you hate sin in your life so badly that you are willing to cut off your own hand rather than to keep sinning ? 

Few of us are willing to do this. 

Yet, the Promise of Life to those who hate their own sin rightfully is this: your hand will be RESTORED WHOLE again when you Enter the Kingdom of Life Eternal with JESUS ! You will lose nothing that you have discarded in fighting your own sinful flesh when you pass into the Heavenlies. You will be rewarded for every stand you have taken against your own sin. 

As a matter of fact, you WIN ! 

Let us pray: 

O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST,  WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, afraid of the consequences of my own sin in my own life.  

I have not loved THEE+ as I ought.

   

I have not forsaken all.

  

I have harbored things in my heart 

that I KNOW are unworthy of a follower of THEE+.

   

I have lifted up my "know-it-all" spirit 

and done presumptuous sin.

I acknowledge myself to be in need of Thy+ cleansing 

and reformation power.

O, LORD, I am in desperate need of Thy+ cleansing. Change me, O LORD. Have mercy upon me. Extend Thy+ mercy with Thy+ Cleansing BLOOD unto me, a sinner.

This I pray in The Sight of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT. 

Amen.      

Pre-Passover MEDITATIONS for the Lenten Season

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+
 Azaleas Hidden in the Woods

The season known commonly as Lent in the Christian church calendar is the season of fasting and repenting of one's sins during a 40-day period preceding Holy Week and The Resurrection.  

The word "lent" itself is from the German, according to Wikipedia, and it simply means "spring" ~ ~ ~ derived from the Germanic word "long" , relating to the "longer" days when springtime arrives after winter. 

Thus, the word "lent" or "lenten" is a secular term and the name LENT has nothing to do with Christianity, in and of itself, nor does it even mean "repentance." 

Therefore, we at the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ have re-named this season of repentance with a term associated with What Happened at this season of the year in the ancient Holy Calendar: "Pre-Passover Preparations."    

Repentance --- removing the old leaven as was commanded before the Passover Season --- is certainly the central theme of this important Christian season leading up to Holy Week.

During Holy Week, we remember Our LORD'S death and sacrifice for our transgressions, HIM+ being bruised for our iniquities. We remember the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+, and that with HIS+ stripes --- not ours --- we are healed.

During this season in which we remove the old leaven of malice and wickedness, we search our hearts before GOD, asking HIM+ to show us areas hidden to our own deceitful hearts, areas where we need to repent.

It starts with Ash Wednesday, with the acknowledgement that WE INDEED ARE SINNERS... and have need of a SAVIOR+. 

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER 

IS SACRIFICED FOR US

THEREFORE, LET US KEEP THE FEAST. 

Not with old leaven, 

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness

but with the un-leavened bread 

of purity and Truth. 

Let us search our hearts... beginning now.  

ASH WEDNESDAY: Passover Meditations for the Lenten Season 2012

~ ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

    JESUS answered them and said, Verily, verily, I+ say unto you, Ye seek ME+, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.  

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto Everlasting Life, which the SON+ of MAN shall give unto you: for HIM+ hath GOD the FATHER sealed. John 6: 26 and 27.

+  +  +

You do not pursue ME+

-- the First and the Last,
Who+ was dead and IS ALIVE--

because you see supernatural works

that should draw you

upward

toward the Heavenlies,

toward Spiritural Life,

towards Who+ I+ am.

I+

-- I+, JESUS,

SON+ of The LIVING GOD,

Who+ trieth

the hearts and minds--

tell you that you seek ME+

because I+ help you

in pursuit of your own happiness.

.

You pursue ME+

because I+ make

your way easier.

.

But I+

--- I+ JESUS ,

Who+ have

the Keys of hell and death ---

tell you to

STOP FOCUSING

UPON THINGS

NOT PROFITABLE

for you in Eternity.

.

Perishable things WILL perish.

.

Separate yourself

from pursuit of the perishable

and come,

come unto ME+,

for I+ will give you rest...

the only rest available

for you.
.
Come through
the Door of The Cross.

+  +  +

The Way of The Cross
Pascha Season 2009
Ash Wednesday
Year of Our LORD,
2.25.09

I must needs go home
by the Way of The Cross;
There’s no other way
but this.

I shall never get sight
of the Gates of Light,
If the Way of The Cross
I miss.

The Way of The Cross
leads home,
leads home.

The Way of The Cross
leads home…
leads home.

It is sweet to know
as I onward go…
The Way of the Cross
leads home.


This old hymn by Jessie Pounds tells us how to get home. As we begin Pascha Season [Passover or Lent] this year, home seems increasingly more important. Home is the place we are welcomed and wanted… where we are secure and our various needs are most abundantly and delightfully met. As adults, we try to make our homes that place of security for our children or spouses or extended family.

But in the long run, no earthly dwelling and no family circle can provide a “home” that meets ALL the needs of our hearts. Our hearts are ever-hungry to be filled. Our endless activities… in the Church or in the world’s arenas… only make us hungrier for the REAL. All the rest gets old. And we get tired, realizing we’ve been on a hamster wheel instead of the Path of Life.

But thankfully, that drives us to drink more deeply from the Well of Life Eternal. We hunger and thirst after Life and His+ Righteousness. Bless GOD! HE+ has provided the Way for us to get it. It is called the Way of The Cross.

There is no shortcut.

There is no alternate route.

There is no detour.

In HIS+ infinite wisdom, only the Way of The Cross will bring us home. All other routes will lead us astray.

During these occasional Paschal Meditations, let us set our sights on going home. In so doing, let us cease following other routes, sowing to the flesh or natural-minded man. Let us become Heavenly-minded… Heavenly-oriented… with our focus upon Home… the only place that matters.

Gracious Heavenly FATHER,
We thank THEE for sending us Thy Beloved SON+ to show us the Way home to THEE. We know there is no other way but HIS+.

We bless THEE+, LORD JESUS, for setting Thy+ Face towards Jerusalem. Help us in our weakness and frailty to do the same, so that we can get safely home. For Thy+ Name’s Sake, we ask this, O LORD, our Savior and Redeemer.

In the Name of The FATHER
Who created us;
Thy Blessed SON+
Who+ saves us;
and Thy HOLY SPIRIT,
Who sanctifies us.
Amen
+ + +

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday

From the Book of Common Prayer, traditional, 1979

Almighty and everlasting God,

who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As this early Lenten season approaches this coming Wednesday, let us come before The LORD with a heart of repentance for not only our sins but for our lack of separation from the world, our flesh, and the many, many distractions which hinder our walk with CHRIST JESUS our LORD.