I’d like to preach short tonight, anybody opposed to that? Didn’t think so? We’ve done a lot of biblical reading, and have more to do. So let’s get right to it.

The readings all have one thing in common. Orientation. Even though you have been a student for 12 full grades, and even though you have been accepted to college, and you wouldn’t have been so accepted if they didn’t think you’d make it through, you still go to orientation. One of my favorite orientations was in Seminary. Orientation shows us both what and where things are, reminds us of the truths we hold dear, and also gives us a glimpse of the future.

These passages for the day remind us of our orientation. This is a time to orient again toward Easter, to orient again toward God and what it means to be a servant child of the King. This is a time to remember that, through Jesus Christ, God sacrificed everything for us, and we too are called to live lives of sacrifice, giving everything we are to God. There are many manners in which to do this. Little known fact, Fat Tuesday. Side point, communion today, this is the feast of the family of God. The point is, eating a certain diet has long been considered a sacrifice. This has been the traditional manner in which to participate in orienting self toward sacrifice.

But it is not the only way. I have given up things such as movies, rental or theater, Mountain Dew, though I would hardly consider that a sacrifice now, now I’d consider it a blessing. Heck, once I gave up television. And I have oriented myself toward sacrifice by not giving things up, by adding things like mediation to my daily prayer, or simply by being aware that sacrifice is important. My hope is that you will find something that will help you to take part in sacrifice, giving your life to the same God who gave life first to you, and then for you.

The word repent is used again and again in these passages. Repent is an oft misunderstood word. It does not mean something so simple as, quit your sinning, fool. It means, in the fullest Hebraic sense, as found in Isaiah, stop what you are doing, and orient yourself toward God. Sure, it could mean that you should stop your sinful manner, but it also means put down whatever you are doing, whatever it is, even if it is something good like taking care of family, stop for a moment and remember to orient yourself toward God. It is so easy in our world to get caught up in what is going on, especially if it is good work. And to that, even that, especially that, the scripture says repent, stop what you are doing just long enough to orient yourself towards God.

Ash Wednesday and Lent are a call. They point to the road to the cross, and they say, “Don’t forget that sacrifice, and don’t forget you too are called to sacrifice.” Let us hear and heed that call. Amen.