February 3, 2016

Alleluia!

This is a word of praise for God.  It's a word we use to celebrate the greatness, power, and glory of God.

Alleluia.  Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

Alleluia!  Sing to Jesus!  His the scepter, his the throne.

Alleluia, alleluia!  Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia is also used in non-liturgical, non-religious, but still thankful and grateful ways.

Alleluia!  I found my car keys.
Alleluia!  I got job.
Alleluia!  We've been approved for a new house.

Alleluia is a word of thanksgiving.  It's a word of praise.  It's a word we use to celebrate.  It's a word of joy.

But, as you know, not everything in life is joyful, praiseworthy, or celebratory.  Sometimes things are hard.  Sometimes things seem unbearable.  Sometimes it seems like we are wandering through a wilderness and wonder if we'll ever come out.  Our faith, though, tells us that we will arrive on the other side, and God has promised to be there waiting for us.

Lent begins next Wednesday.  The somber season begins with the service of Ash Wednesday, a call to a holy Lent through self-examination and repentance, prayer, fasting, self-denial, and the imposition of ashes.  And it removes 'Alleluia' from our vocabulary.

As Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, we also spend 40 days traveling through Lent.  I encourage you to plan now for how you will live into a holy Lent, through picking up a new discipline (may I suggest reading a Daily Office) or through the discipline of self-denial (fasting on Fridays is always an option).  This last week of Epiphany is a good time to plan for that discipline so that, come Ash Wednesday, you won't be surprised.

We are in the last week of the Epiphany season.  This coming Sunday will be your last opportunity to shout, 'Alleluia!' before Easter.  We are getting ready to enter the somber season of Lent.  We are preparing to wander through the wilderness.  Somewhere along the line, you might reexamine the wisdom of picking up a particular discipline or committing to an act of self-denial.

Don't give up.  Don't give in.  God will meet you on the other side.

Alleluia!