Holy.
It's what God is.
It's what God wants from us.
Holy is different from the norm, set apart for God-focused purpose. A Chalice for the Eucharist is never used for any other meal, the baptismal font isn't used to hold potato salad at a methodist pot-luck. They are common objects set aside for God-focused purpose, to be holy.
Any created thing can be made holy. In Leviticus it says that when a holy person touches any common thing, it becomes holy, too. Anything can have a God-focused purpose: a cup, a room, a building, a piece of property, a piece of clothing, a day, a period of time, a person, a life.
Lent is the 40 days counted back from Easter (not including Sundays). It is a time to focus on God more completely than in our every day life. It is a time to give up habits that keep us from living a God-focused life or at least give up something so that we can gain back control of ourselves. Lent is to be different from the rest of the year. It is to be holy; we are to be holy.
Today is Ash Wednesday. We are called to recognize our guilt, our humanity and seek God's mercy. We are called on to begin this 40 day journey at the beginning, to start fresh; to claim for ourselves that , "you're the one I've violated...I've been out of step with you for a long time." (Psalm 51:4a & 5a, The Message)
We are to seek God.
We are to seek God's gift.
"Generous in love - God give grace!" (Psalm 51:1, The Message)
Vow today to begin this journey of a set-apart Lent in order to develop a set-apart life; one that is focused on God, pleasing to God, becoming more like God.
Keep a Set-Apart Lent!
Peace ><>
PC
1 comment:
Set-apart is different..but different in a positive way for God.
Giving up - food, free time, me, me, me.
The ultimate sacrifice was given for us all and we are asked to sit inside this Holy time and find ways to reflect this sacrifice.
Let us be set-apart reflections of Christ today and always.
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