March 2024

“Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the feast.” 1 Cor. 5:7-8

Dear Redeemer Family:
The above biblical text is the Gospel Acclamation for Easter Sunday. Did I just write down Easter Sunday? Yes. The last day of March is Easter Sunday this year. The day where our faith and hope ultimately rests. The day when the Church “pulls out all of the stops.” It is the single most important day of the year for Christians. It is when the victory is won and won totally. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you will, is that until we get there, we still must go through the rest of Lent. But is that really bad news?

Yes, Lent is a time of discipline, and repentance. But it is also a time of cleansing and renewal. This year, during our Wednesday night services, we are exploring something different, something ancient, and something which is kind of forgotten, though we do it often. We are looking at the concept of “Lament.” It is so overlooked, that the word itself is rare in our modern literature. Yet, we do it informally all the time, often privately. But we do it, utilize the concept, in its weakest form, namely, to complain. That is pretty weak.

Biblically, lament is a much stronger concept. Most of the biblical laments are not just complaints. Rather, they emerge from deep pain within the individual or nation. They come from the depths of the soul. And while they can indeed be seen as complaints about life’s circumstances, they have a much deeper understanding. They are cries to God to intervene, to make things right, even to forgive. The Bible is filled with laments. Over a third of the 150 psalms are considered lament psalms. The prophets and wisdom literature of the Bible are filled with laments. In other words, it is all good to cry out to God in our pain and suffering and ask for succor. It can even be said that it is expected.

I think that looking at the concept of lament during the Season of Lent is very appropriate. At the end of the Season of Lent, our God does step in and intervene for us. That is Easter! During Lent, we remember our Lord’s journey to Jerusalem and the waiting cross. Our Lord takes our suffering upon himself. He intervenes for us. He dies for us. And then, on Easter Sunday, Our Lord rises victorious over the tomb. That is the supreme intervention. In the Resurrection, our ancient enemies, the reasons for our sufferings; sin, death and evil; are destroyed. We are freed. We are saved.

Yes, it is good to lament now. It can cleanse and renew us. It is a good lesson for this Season of Lent. It can, quite well, lead us to the Resurrection. And there, we are fully restored. And crying and tears shall be no more.

In Christ,
Pastor Rose

February 2024

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.” Psalm 51:1

Dear Redeemer Family:

Lent. Yes, I wrote Lent. Some of you may be thinking, “Isn’t it a bit early to be thinking about Lent.” Well, yes, it is. But we have an early Lent this year, and a bit of an early Easter. Still, some may be thinking, “Didn’t we just take down the Christmas decorations? Didn’t the stores do so as well, and put-up St. Valentine’s Day decorations and candy?” Yes, you did, and the stores did. But guess what? This year Ash Wednesday falls on St. Valentine’s Day!!!! How is that for a strange mix of themes? Chocolate and ashes, love and contrition mixed together. It may sound like a strange mix, and it is. But that is what we have this year.

Although chocolate and ashes sound kind of bizarre, love and contrition for Lent do not. It is for our love of God that we are contrite. In Lent, we examine ourselves, our lives, in light of what God would have us to do and be. And then, we try to do better. We spend 40 days in the wilderness with Christ, contemplating and repenting. We strive to better conform our lives more closely with Christ’s example. Some people may not like the Season of Lent. But it serves a very good purpose. We are trying to better ourselves.

It is not a time of trying to impress God. He has already forgiven us for our shortcomings, our sins. No, it is a time to try to improve ourselves in God’s sight. Maybe so that God will not have to forgive so much. For some, with Lent beginning fairly early this year, it may be time to pick up those New Year’s Resolutions which we’ve already broken and try to run with them again. Like New Year’s Resolutions, Lent is really a matter of self-improvement, and self-discipline. And, for those who believe that think that they don’t need any improving (there are always some), you can try to reach out and help others in their life’s journey.

One of my favorite Christmas carols, which we rarely sing, is “In the Bleak Midwinter.” In this bleak midwinter, let us look to the light of Christ, and try to be improved people when we arrive at the brilliant light of Christ at Easter. Let us be better children of God, and co-heirs with Christ. Let’s be hopeful for better times. Things are different this year. Remember, this year, Lent can also begin with chocolate!

In Christ,

Pastor Rose