Beginning

Romans 1:1-7 (NRSV) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul also loves a good run-on sentence! In the midst of this run-on of a greeting, however, he lays out his theology and prepares his readers for what will come in his letter.  In this short few verses Paul declares Jesus's Son-ship of God; declares his foretelling by the prophets; connects him by blood to King David; describes Jesus' work as being the source of grace and apostleship that his followers will use to bring faith to gentiles; and lays all of that power as being intimately tied to the resurrection from the dead. In Lent we are watching as Jesus moves now toward that Resurrection.  A journey that will bring us from the midst of pain and reflection and darkness into glory and celebration and light.  Like those who Paul is writing to in Rome, we are also called to be saints.  Saints, who as Luther reminds us, are also paradoxically sinners. But sinners who have be claimed and freed. Lent is a time of waiting and hoping and reflecting.  It is a time of fasting and forgiving and confessing.  It is a time of cleansing and strengthening and awakening. As we wait for the day of resurrection, remember Paul's greeting.  A beginning of a great letter, it is also a fitting beginning to our time of Lent.  Though we think of Lent as time of darkness, the light is coming and in fact we know has already come.  We have already been set free, but in this time, we remember perhaps what it is like not to be free.  We rest and wait in hope for the resurrection to loose those bonds. Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.  Strengthen us while we wait and help us to remember that we are saints called into your love and service always.  Amen.