Lent 2013

Wednesday, First Week of Lent

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  Psalm 51:1-2

Often hell is portrayed as a place of punishment and heaven as a place of reward.  But this concept easily leads us to think about God in terms of our earthly judicial system.  When we sin we can go to prison. Or maybe we think about God as Santa Claus, who keeps a naughty and nice list and if we are real good we will find something wonderful in our stockings at the end of the year.

God, however, is neither a member of the judicial system nor Santa Claus. God does not send us to heaven or hell depending on how often we obey or disobey.  God is love and only love. In God there is no hatred, desire for revenge or pleasure in seeing us punished.  God wants to forgive, heal, restore, show us endless mercy and see us come home.  But just as the father of the prodigal son let his son make his own decision, God gives us the freedom to refuse divine love, even at the risk of destroying ourselves.  Hell is not God's choice.  It is ours.

For thought:  The following are pictures taken inside a monastery in the Holy Land.  This Orthodox faith tradition uses ikon's throughout their worship spaces, to enhance prayer and aid in meditation.  Which image, or images, of God do you bring to prayer and meditation?