Paul: Helping to Shape Our Christian Identity
Excerpt from, Lent With the Saints: Daily Reflections, © Greg Friedman, OFM
Joshua 5-9a, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-3,2-5,6-7; 2; Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
'Saint Paul Writing His Epistles' by Valentin de Boulogne (1618-1620) Public Domain
Old Testament readings take priority in Lent. Most of the First Readings on weekdays are from the Hebrew Scriptures; the First Reading each Sunday is chosen to recall the story of salvation. The writings of St. Paul, however, also appear on the Sundays of Lent. As I was trying to find a place in this book for the Apostle to the Gentiles, a friend reminded me of how Paul bridges the Old and New Testaments. His theology helps to shape much of our Christian identity.
Paul bookends Lent with his themes. On Ash Wednesday, we read Paul quoting Isaiah, ‘“At an acceptable time I have listened to you, / and on a day of salvation I have helped you’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). This passage has always heralded for me the start of the Lenten journey of penance and conversion.
As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we hear (in all three cycles) Paul’s great hymn of “emptying” from Philippians. He reminds us: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, / who, though he was in the form of God, / did not regard equality with God / as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, / taking the form of a slave, / being born in human likeness / (Philippians 2:6-7).
This total emptying of the Incarnation, this poverty of God, inspired so many saints, including Francis of Assisi. It is how we are to identify with Christ, Paul tells us. And he goes on to describe Christ’s total obedience in his death on a cross, the destination and climax of our Lenten journey, leading to resurrection and glory.
Today’s Action
Study one of Paul’s letters in its entirety as a Lenten prayer and reflection.
Prayer
Jesus may our attitude be yours. Help us to let go of all that keeps us from life with you. May today for us be a day of salvation. Amen.
Fr. Greg Friedman, OFM, is a media producer and author of Advent With the Saints: Daily Reflections. He is host of American Catholic Radio, a program syndicated on Catholic radio stations nationwide. In 2009 his film Assisi Pilgrimage: Walking in faith With Francis and Clare appeared on PBS. Fr. Greg is also pastor of an inner-city parish in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Posted in: Lent and Easter, Prayer
