This week, I pass on vestry notes from Michele Driscoll, our clerk, and also wanted to share quickly with you a passage of Scripture discussed at our Lenten Tuesday evening this week. This Sunday we observe (it feels strange to say "celebrate") the fourth Sunday of Lent-we're in the middle of it. Traditionally, this was known as "Laetare" Sunday: in Latin, rejoice. Its cousin is Gaudete Sunday, in Advent-both are halfway-through resting points, and both days when pink vestments may be worn. While it would certainly make my son Isaiah's heart soar to see the whole church decked out in his favorite color, it seems like a hard argument to make to buy all those vestments, so we're sticking with purple.
The idea of the day, though, is to remember that Easter is coming; its light is shining, and we're now more than halfway there. Another thing to entice us forward is that our windows are back in! You'll see new leaded glass in the hall, sacristy, and Main Street entryway, but we're keeping the stained glass under wraps for now. Suffice it to say that the colors and detail will knock your socks off...at the appropriate time. They'll be uncovered in time for Palm Sunday, our joyful procession at the palms being supplemented with the new light from the Good Shepherd.
For your Lenten practice today, though, take a few minutes to climb up into the tree and see what Zacchaeus is after--and how Jesus finds him.
[Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.' So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, 'He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.' Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, 'Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost' (Luke 19:1-10).
How are you lost? Found? Where is the journey of Lent taking you today?
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