Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
(Psalm 19: 14)
Greetings Disciples of the Lord Jesus, the Christ
Overseer Emma and I want to remind us ALL that “Lent is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with Christ…” As the Shepheard’s of True Vine, that we are called to live our lives, not only reading the WORD, but, also in DEEDS. When our hearts truly encounter Jesus Christ, we are filled with the joy of the Gospel. Our lives, our Church, nation and world need that joy, the joy of the Lord. We all need that renewed encounter.
As the Lenten Season is often seen as a time of renewal, we want to gently remind us that we can dishonor the human dignity of others, by treating them as the OTHER. When we distance ourselves from OTHERS, simply because they are different from us, without taking the time to understand their journey, we can, in some way, add to their pain. We can ALL learn something from Jesus. Jesus ate with sinners, had a conversation with the Woman at the Well, an outcast, and loved Peter back into the fold of the brotherhood.
Let this Lenten Season, let us all be aware of our own, blindness with often result in our emptiness. Be renewed and be filled with His JOY. During Lent we relive the great mysteries of our Faith. We recall that Jesus died to save us from our sins. As Paul says: “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) The cross is a sign of His love for ALL of us. I pray that this Lent will be for all of us a time of “Spiritual Renewal” and a time “Revitalization” for us ALL.
We pray that you may take this journey seriously and that, through the grace of God, it will lead you to a renewed encounter with Christ.
Devotedly yours in Christ
+Bishop Trevor D & Overseer Emma M. Alexander +
