April 2025 Messenger
A LENTEN REFLECTION
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
On Good Friday, during the Veneration of the Cross, we hear the Reproaches. They begin with,
“O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.”
This is a direct quote of Micah 6:3 (KJV). The verses offer a juxtaposition of God’s saving acts towards humanity and the evil deeds done against the Son of God on Earth. The first verse:
“Because I led thee out of the land of Egypt: thou has prepared a cross for thy Savior.”
What did you or I do to put Christ on the Cross? Quite simply, our sins did this. Our fallen nature did this. God’s love for us, not wanting to be separated from us, did this. This is why we call to mind our sins and earnestly repent and of them and turn away from them. As you’ve heard me say from the pulpit a number of times, the culture wants us to believe certain things are no longer sinful. This is a lie and the work of the devil.
The last verse of the Reproaches is:
“I exalted thee with great strength: and thou hast hanged me on the gibbet of the cross.”
Think and ponder on the great gifts and graces God has given you. When we turn to our own way instead of God’s, we are basically saying, “Yes, You’ve done these wonderful things for me, but I want to do these things You have told me not to do.” We become those whom God has exalted, and then put Christ on the cross. To be clear, every one of us will sin, but the object of this life is to make Christ known to the world, and pattern our lives after his, not by our own desires.
I encourage you for the remainder of Lent to be mindful of your actions and thoughts. To seek Christ in all things and in all people. This is especially important in this current time of strong political ideals on both sides. As hard as it may be, we must respect the dignity of every human being, even if they do not do the same. We must seek Christ in them, even if they do not seek Him themselves.
Let us call to mind God’s love and mercy towards us, and proclaim to the world the love of Jesus; for you and I will only go to heaven “by the merits of his [Jesus] most precious death and passion.” Thanks be to God and Jesus Christ be praised!
Fr. Garland
512-808-7477
rector@stpaulsbythelake.org
