The sermon text is below the sermon audio.

 

Ash Wednesday, March 2nd 2022
Zion Episcopal Church, Washington NC
The Reverend Alan Neale
“If God made it, He loves it”

Some years ago, in Philadelphia, I took up canvas, needle and thread and began to needlepoint. The unique joy of creating something that I could then present to a friend was unexpected. By sharing in the creation of a belt, a cushion or whatever something of me was in that creation and that I shared with another.
Subsequently, I forget quite when, I began a cushion for dear friends that depicted a famous scene in Ireland; upon completion I had to admit it was quite awful… instead of an idyllic Irish harbor scene it looked like aliens had descended upon a strangely colored land. But I still loved it and eventually it found its way to the intended recipients.
And, yet again, promising to needlepoint an image of Abraham Lincoln for a treasured friend in Philadelphia I created a final image of President Lincoln that suggested some awful disease had ravaged his face. But I still loved it and eventually it found its way to the intended recipients; who wrote to tell me the cushion sat with honor on his sofa.
I had made them, put time and energy into their creation, and I could not discard nor dislike them.
Our Lenten collect begins with a striking phrase that should be at the core of our incarnational theology and our attitude towards all created things. “Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made…”. Forgive the quintessentially English double negative to say something positive; but as you know, those Brits are such hesitant souls.
Here the phrase echoes that glorious refrain that rings through the first chapter of Genesis, “God made it… God saw it… and it was very good”.
There you have it… nothing we have done or even plan to do, nothing that we have been or are at this moment can prevent God from loving and cherishing us. Do you believe it?

The Lenten journey may be described as the journey to be “reconciled to God”, to the authentic image of God. In our second reading Paul seeks our commitment to the task of reconciliation and our enlistment as ambassadors of reconciliation.

This process of reconciliation is ingrained in the very warp and woof of all human existence; it is for reconciliation that we are made and destined, it is against reconciliation that we often fight and struggle to our peril in body, in mind and in spirit.

For some years now I have prayed that reconciliation would begin in a family context; only recently have my prayers changed… I now pray that this divine process would not begin but would continue… I believe it is at work as surely as the sun rises and the sun sets.

Please this Lent, consider the God of reconciliation not alienation. The God of grace not of condemnation. The God of the sacred present moment not some distant blessing. The God who, as Jesus tells us, is our Father/Mother not our distant uncle nor disinterested judge.

The medieval mystic Julian of Norwich wrote that God sees us as perfect and waits for the day when human souls mature so that evil and sin will no longer hinder us.
This Lent, I pray that you and I will take time to be reconciled to the image that God sees as He looks at us; and the authentic image we must reclaim of God as Jesus presents Him to us.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in me a new and contrite hearts, that worthily lamenting my sins and acknowledging my wretchedness, I may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.