Lent, Week 2
Mario Romero • February 21, 2024
Lent and Spiritual Blessing
Over the last several days, a word has taken hold of me as I reflect and engage with the Lenten season—privilege. Privilege can be a trigger word, a concept to be argued, a status to behold, or a reality to live and contend with. Whichever of these you relate to, I do not know, nor am I trying to convince you otherwise. What I know of myself, is that I experience and live in privilege. The One who holds all things together—holds me.
“Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth,
As it is in heaven”
Paul says in Ephesians 1, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” I am privileged to live and be united with the One who has blessed me with every spiritual blessing. I am invited, accepted, and held in unity with the One who was, and is, and is to come.
As I look forward to the cross, it is “every spiritual blessing” that empowers each step. It is “every spiritual blessing” that holds the cross. It is “every spiritual blessing” that utters, “I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
Lord, may every spiritual blessing you have given me, be a reflection of your kingdom, your will, so others will know, believe, and be united with You.
Art and Poetry Inspired by the Book of Revelation
Some resources on the Atonement
Some thoughts on why we do things the way we do at RCB.
How do we walk when we feel attacked and alone?
Going through Lent, allowing God to tune our hearts to worship.
An invitation into knowing God's faithfulness through pain.
A review of Christianity and Critical Race Theory
On trying to follow Jesus in a consumerist culture.
This is how I remember Lent as a kid: go to mass on Ash Wednesday (I have no memory of any sermon, lol), vow to give up something (that lasted as long as a New Year’s resolution), and eat Long John Silver’s fried fish on Fridays (their hushpuppies and crunchies…mmmm). We didn’t eat meat on Fridays (unless we forgot, but we prayed, so it was ok); it was something everyone in the church did, right? I knew it was leading up to Easter--other than that, I had no real understanding or connection to it. Lent was taught more like an obligation rather than an opportunity. An opportunity to reflect, rejoice, rest, repent (what other “r” words can we think of?) on Christ’s journey to the cross. The next 40 days is an opportunity, an invitation to draw closer to the Giver of Life. For some, this might look sacrificial (giving something up), for others it might be a genesis (starting something new), or it can be a combination of the two. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth, As it is in heaven” Our Lord doesn’t just teach us to pray, he embodies prayer. He inaugurates God’s kingdom on earth through his presence with us; through his faithful obedience, we get to see and experience heaven on earth. This does not come without temptation, and trials, and wandering astray at times—yet our loving God invites. He invites us to remember, to reengage with the One who creates and holds all things; He invites us to lay down our lives and pick up our crosses. We want to invite you to participate with RCB, as we journey with Christ to Calvary, praying for the strength to be obedient… Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth, As it is in heaven.
A book review of Peter Sung's excellent The Post-Church Church.