Pink Shirt Day and Ash Wednesday

It’s Pink Shirt Day here in British Columbia.  If you are asking yourself what that means, it’s a symbol for anti-bullying. 

It’s also Ash Wednesday, the first day of the special period of time each year that we use to prepare our hearts for Easter.  The colour used in liturgical churches during this season is traditionally purple and in some places now blue – both colours that are meant to call us to repentance, that turning away from our sins and turning towards the loving God who gave His all so we could live in loving relationship with Him forever.

When I thought about how to respond to both of these focuses today I couldn’t think of better verses than the familiar words written for us in Philippians 2.  Many of you will know these words, perhaps even by heart.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:3-11

Loving God, I’m so grateful that we don’t have to push and shove and pretend to be better than anyone else.  We can safely consider the needs of others and not just look after our own needs and wishes.

Too often we don’t live that way and we ask Your forgiveness for the times we’ve harmed others, ither intentionally or unintentionally by what we’ve said or done, or by what we should have said or done but failed to do.

Help us to embrace Your love so we can live the humility Jesus modelled for us by laying down things that were rightfully His in order to come to earth to die for our sins.

Come alongside those who suffer today because of the harshness and thoughtlessness of others.  Comfort and sustain them.  Remind them that they are Your beloved sons and daughters. 

Change the hearts of those who bully and give them hearts of kindness that seek the good of others rather than to harm them.

Give us grace today as we enter the season of Lent to be those who allow You to change our hearts so we become more like You.  Amen

What an honourable thing Jesus did by assuming the humble place.  Let’s follow His example today.