Lent is not the season most often associated with celebration. It is the season in which we are reminded of our mortality and the need to turn away from our sins (or else face dire consequences, as Ezekiel reminds us). Yet, celebration is the theme which runs throughout Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and he finishes with a flourish, imploring his readers to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice.” It is, literally, a call to celebrate, and to do so out in the open for everyone to see.
But, once again, this seems out of place during Lent. The disciplines we observe are not to be done for show. Yet, Paul says to the Philippians, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” The church is to be known for its gentle spirit, its compassionate service, and its unity in Christ (Euodia and Syntyche, please take note). Jesus prayed that all his disciples be perfectly one. Now, Paul exhorts the Philippian congregation to manifest that unity in such a manner that it will be known to everyone around them. In so doing, they would be bearing witness to the fact that “The Lord is near.”
So, once again, we are reminded, as we will be throughout Lent, of where our focus must always be. As a community defined by celebration, the church calls attention not to itself or to its individual members, but to the coming reign of its Lord, who will subject all things to himself and transform a fallen and shattered world into a glorious new creation.
Lord, in this Thy mercy’s day,
Ere for us it pass away,
On our knees we fall and pray.
Holy Jesus, grant us tears,
Fill us with heart searching fears,
Ere the hour of doom appears.
Lord, on us Thy Spirit pour,
Kneeling lowly at Thy door,
Ere it close forevermore.
By Thy night of agony,
By Thy supplicating cry,
By Thy willingness to die,
By Thy tears of bitter woe,
For Jerusalem below,
Let us not Thy peace forego.
Judge and Savior of our race,
Grant us, when we see Thy face,
With Thy ransomed ones a place.
Grant us ’neath Thy wings a place,
Lest we lose this day of grace,
Ere we shall behold Thy face.
On Thy love we rest alone,
And that love shall then be known,
By the pardoned, round Thy throne.
- Isaac Williams
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