Homily Lent I 

March 6,2022

ECOOS

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The Great Litany reminds us of who we are as sinners.  But it also reminds us that we are God’s own. I will always commend you for praying through it.  After all, in a culture that celebrates efficiency and compressed expression, this can seem to go on for quite a while. Sarah Parsons reminds us that, “We tend, especially in western society, to separate ourselves from discomfort or chaos, [but Lent] encourages us to sit in the chaotic, uncomfortable place, possibly for a long time.” (Parsons, Sarah A Clearing Season: Reflections for Lent Nashville TN: Upper Room Books, 2006.)


Still, there must be something to it.  We enter into The Litany today as participants in a tradition that goes back for centuries, and its relevance is well documented. According to the TEC website, The Great Litany “was used as early as the fifth century in Rome. . .and The Litany was the first English language rite prepared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. . . . The Litany’s use in church processions was ordered by Henry VIII when England was at war with Scotland and France. [And they did it all the time,]  “. . . after the fixed collects of Morning Prayer on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.” (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/great-litany-the/) It has also been a fixture in both the 1928 and 1979 Books of Common Prayer. 

Chanting each section gives us the time to really focus on what is standing between us and God.  Our using it on the first Sunday of Lent reminds us that this season is not about punishing ourselves, but rather about being willing to spend the time.  Time on our knees, literally or figuratively, is never a bad thing; it is a physical, emotional and spiritual way for us to begin this season offering our first fruits to God. Sarah Parsons assures us that, “God will show you parts of yourself that you do not wish to see, but God will also comfort you and show you truth, and from truth you can expect new humility, energy and freedom.” (Parsons, Sarah A Clearing Season: Reflections for Lent Nashville TN: Upper Room Books, 2006.) If you are still on one foot about Lent, let those qualities convince you.

We see this in the reading from Deuteronomy as well. You can look online and find a great hand written chart, or if you are interested in going deeper, the Bible Love Podcast also spends weeks on Deuteronomy.  But here is the overview: the first chapters are a review of the Torah.  The second part, which chapter 26 very nearly caps, contains the laws for Life in Canaan.  (https://overviewbible.com/deuteronomy/) After this, Moses gives Israel a choice and appoints Joshua as his successor. Chapter 26 closes with loving and obeying God. This is the essence of an abiding Lenten practice. 

“Today’s reading describes the liturgy for the offering of the Israelites’ first fruits. The reading occurs in the context of Moses’ address to the people before they enter the promised land. They are to recall regularly and ritually their dependence upon God for the land and for its harvest. . .The focus is on God’s deliverance of and provision for the people throughout history.” (https://www.preparingforsunday.com/Lectionary/rm66rm39rr/0)  You likely know that a practice of depending on God is the best defense against temptation. And, Luke reminds us that temptation is always at hand.  


My friend and colleague, The Rev. Dorian del Priore, told me that he was basing his homily today on the concept of Temptation as Identity Theft.  I have been pondering this all week, and it is brilliant.  We are created and designed as People of God.  Temptation works against that by enticing us away from who we know we are meant to be. We can see this clearly in Satan’s approach to Jesus. And, as though we needed a reminder,  we can also see that banishing temptation once is not the end of the story. 


“The last line is a final indication of Jesus’ humanity: after “every test, [the devil] departed from him until an opportune time.” It starts again for him as it does for us. We are constantly in process, never arriving. Just when we think we’ve conquered that demon, put to rest that particular addiction, it surfaces in another form. Around the next dim corner, whom should we meet but our old enemy, that obnoxious habit we thought we’d vanquished?” (https://www.preparingforsunday.com/Lectionary/rm66rm39rr/)


It would be easy to say, “of course Jesus wins this one. . .Satan has underestimated him.”  But Satan can underestimate us too, and we can counter evil confidence when we remember who we really are.   Lent invites us to strengthen our distinctiveness as people of God. 


Brother James Koester says that it can be a little daunting, because making the choice to strengthen our relationship with God can invite the dark side. He offers this advice: “So next time you are troubled by doubt, ask if its name is love. Next time you are troubled by fear, ask if its name is love. Next time you are troubled by jealousy, ask if its name is love. Next time you are troubled by lust or greed or shame or worthlessness or whatever other demons come to you, ask if its name is love. And the God who is Love will be made known to you and you will discover, or discover again what it means to live life in union with God. (https://www.ssje.org/2016/02/14/life-in-union-with-god-br-james-koester/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=58603450&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8QvnIiFDwdSHxwIwUOjzxy6BBxgKAAtlOpmLw3HveZLTzDIX0wciDUy9M1q-ltlaASSFBASOfxQ7-EOUEErm9YIhSnug&utm_content=58546839&utm_source=hs_email)

      The Great Litany reminds us of who we are: sinners and God’s own. Perhaps even God Incarnate experienced the misery of demons and wilderness to remind Him of what He already knew: prayer time alone on our knees helps us refocus our priorities and stay steady.  We need help discerning the source of what calls to us.  If it’s not love, it’s not God. 

                                                                             justusanglican.org

By staying in relationship, making the time to re-center, and being clear about God’s authority over our own, we can focus on the essential part of who we were made to be. And all of the assistance we ever need is there for the asking.


Amen.

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