The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
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2021 LENTEN MEDITATIONS

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Week V | Sunday, March 21 - Saturday, March 27


Sunday, March 21

​Now there is rejoicing in heaven;
for you were lost, and are found;
you were dead, and are now alive
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Abide in peace. The Lord has
put away all your sins.
Thanks be to God.

—The Book of Common Prayer, p. 451

Monday, March 22
What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face
of the poor? says the Lord God of hosts.

—Isaiah 3:15
As part of an effort to help New York’s significant homeless
population self-isolate amidst the worst of the COVID-19
pandemic, homeless families with children were moved from
overcrowded shelters into hotels across New York City. I happen
to live by one such hotel and was not prepared for many of my
neighbors’ responses.
Instead of compassion for some of the most vulnerable members
of society, several of my neighbors reverted to fear, anger and
self-protection. People publicly complained that they didn’t pay
such high rents to be living beside the homeless. Others took
the more subtle position of wishing this laudable solution wasn’t
happening right next door. Then there were those of us—myself
included—who should have advocated more forcefully in the
name of compassion and basic human decency.
During confession, we ask God forgiveness for those things
done and left undone. These days, I’m struck by how often it is
the most vulnerable who are the victims of our statements and
silence, our actions and inaction. In the Book of Isaiah, God asks,
“What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face
of the poor?” What do we mean by this indeed? How can we turn
from such actions toward a different way of being?
—Miguel Angel Escobar
Tuesday, March 23
We confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

—The Book of Common Prayer, p. 360
I’m often asked how people, particularly people in The Episcopal
Church, can become advocates for diversity and can be antiracists.
I tell them that the first step I had to take was to look
deep inside, in those places so hidden that even I had a tough
time finding them. Then, I had to face all the things that I knew
I had thought, done, left undone, said that were not loving, not
uplifting and not edifying to my siblings who may not be part
of my culture. After that, I had to repent. I had to truly come to
the feet of Jesus and ask for forgiveness. I have to actively and
intentionally repent daily because I mess up, or sin, all the time.
In our Book of Common Prayer, we have the Confession, and it can
be a starting point for us to repent. Without my daily recognition
of wrongdoing and the certainty that God loves and forgives
me, I wouldn’t be able to be true to my Baptismal Covenant of
striving for justice and peace among all people and respecting
the dignity of every human being.
—Sandra T. Montes
Wednesday, March 24
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself
before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with
thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my
body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is
good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,
and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

—Micah 6:6-8
When the process of lamenting is over, what is next? What are
God’s expectations for those who have been injured and for those
who have hurt others? What is necessary for reconciliation?
It comes down to this for the prophet Micah: that all of us do
justice and love kindness and walk humbly with God.
Accomplishing these three goals is the work of a lifetime.
Sometimes, those who have been injured erect barriers to
protect their hearts. When that happens, bitterness can replace
kindness. Perhaps that is why the prophet reminds us of the
need for humility, lest those who have been offended end up
hurting other people.
When God’s justice is enacted, our communities will be places
where everyone can thrive. In the kingdom of God, no one is
exempt from the responsibility to demonstrate kindness and
humility. Faithful disciples are called to eradicate injustice
wherever they find it. Ultimately, talk is cheap. Our actions
demonstrate what we value far more than our words. A Lenten
discipline’s goal is to establish patterns that will continue beyond
the forty days of Lent. As we prepare for Holy Week and Easter,
identify one cause you are passionate about and volunteer your
time, talents or treasure in a spirit of humility and kindness.
—Phoebe Roaf
Thursday, March 25
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap
at harvest time, if we do not give up.

—Galatians 6:9
Only by persevering in doing what is right will we be led to the
reward we were promised.
How can I “do what is right” to someone who is lying and doing
me harm? God is wiser than I. God says that the best thing to
do is forgive—not to hold grudges or resentment but to love my
neighbor and always do what is right. So that is what I will do,
and I invite you to join me. I know how challenging this sounds,
but today we are deciding to place God above everything else.
We are learning how to live beneath the cross and to persevere.
All that we sow, we will reap. Let us wait with faith and never lose
heart as we continue doing what is right. The outside world may
rage against us. Have faith. Do what is right.
There is one more thing I invite you to do: Ask God in prayer to fill
your heart with love, justice and forgiveness. Try to do God’s will.
Try to always be connected to God, even if a part of you doesn’t
want to. Doing what is right is more challenging than following
our own wishes. You will need faith and resolve to want to please
the Lord. Let’s keep on walking, one step at a time.
—Patricia Martin
Friday, March 26
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and did not conceal my guilt;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

—Psalm 32:5-6
I recently listened to a podcast about apologies. The speaker
talked about the fact that saying “I’m sorry” isn’t about erasing
the guilt of your sin. It is rather an opportunity to acknowledge
the harm you have caused. The role of the harmed isn’t to absolve
you of your harm. They get to decide when they are ready to
forgive you. They get to decide if, how, and in what manner they
would like to be in relationship with you.
The act of absolution comes from my relationship with God. It is
only when I remember my belovedness and God’s grace that true
restitution will come. This does not mean that I am absolved of
the responsibility for the harm I have done. It also doesn’t mean
that I am released from the harm done on my behalf.
Particularly in this time of pandemic, economic crisis and
racial reckoning, we are invited to think about our interpersonal,
everyday relationships and our larger social structures that have
created inequity and injustice. What I have learned most from my
work in disasters is that various groups are disproportionately
impacted by harm in our world. And we learn that we might
already have some solutions for these inequities. We have
seen our communities step up to address homelessness, food
insecurity and health inequities during this pandemic. What are
we called to do in non-disaster times to make this world look
more like God’s dream?
—Tamara Plummer
Saturday, March 27
Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord.
—Isaiah 1:18a
One of the defining moments of my life was the fight that closed
down a crack house behind the community center where I
worked. The community won a $1 million grant, and neighborhood
leaders were excited about the possibilities for change. Then
disappointment came when most of the money went to
agencies located outside of the neighborhood. That experience
remains with me and informs my current work of focusing on
congregational/community engagement and transformation.
How do well-meaning people with resources and power faithfully
engage neglected communities without running over the people
who actually live there? I believe it begins with conversation and
a commitment to local residents being the decision-makers.
This recognition of the strength and sustainability found in local
resources is at the heart of asset-based community development.
I’ve worked with congregations and communities where deep
and lasting change has happened. It requires humility and a true
commitment to reconciliation. We cannot turn around decades
of neighborhood neglect and broken promises without first
creating trust. Like God has done, we must seek out the “other”
and recognize their full capacity as people created in God’s image.
It will take many conversations, time and, yes, arguments to build
the trust needed for real change. Yet, some of the most lasting and
gratifying work I’ve experienced came from hard conversations
with residents committed to their community. I believe people
of faith can lead the pathway forward by humbly engaging in
authentic conversation and relationships with the people in the
communities we serve. This begins one conversation at a time.
—Willie Bennett
307 Federal Street / P.O. Box 441,  Milton, DE 19968 ~ 302.684.8431 ~ officestjohnthebaptist@gmail.com
"Behold! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!" --St. John the Baptist
  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • Calendar of Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Parish Life >
      • Mailing List Registration
      • Behind the Scenes
      • Landscape Day
      • Sandwich Thursdays
      • Renewal of Baptism
    • Parish Directory
    • Memorial Garden
    • History
  • WORSHIP
    • Services
    • Worship Services >
      • Eastertide Services
      • Lenten & Epiphanytide Services
    • Homilies
    • Prayer Request
    • What to Expect
    • Home Devotions
    • Sacraments
    • Episcopal Resources
  • CONNECT
    • Rector Messages
    • Adult Ministries
    • Youth Ministries >
      • 2019 Lessons
    • Music Ministries
  • SERVE
    • During Worship
    • Outreach >
      • 2023 Soup Sale
    • Care & Support
  • Give
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  • CONTACT
    • Directions
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