Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance. Govern and uphold them now and always.
For the next four weeks, I will be offering a reflection on the penitential closing section of the Te Deum. The Te Deum is traditionally not prayed during Lent. Nevertheless, I think this concluding section of the Te Deum is very appropriate for this Lenten season. This final section of the Te Deum is optionally prayed on Sunday’s outside of Lent as a part of the Office of Readings. As we came forward to receive ashes on Wednesday, the minister as the ashes were being crossed on our forward said, “Remember, you are dust, and dust you shall return.” With these words, we are reminded of our human condition. Our mortal bodies will decay, but it is our hope and belief that our souls shall live. We believe that our Lord and savior Jesus Christ has conquered the world. In this phrase from the Te Deum, we pray that the Lord will look upon us with mercy as well as the whole of creation. At the same time, it is an act of faith, hope and love for all humanity. This Sunday, we celebrate the Rite of Election. At the same time as we pray as a community for those who will very soon be receiving the sacraments of initiation, we are reminded of our own baptism and are called to reform our lives that we might conform more fully to the divine will of God. As we sing the music for this First Week of Lent full throated, let us dive deeper into the mysteries of our faith.
“This is the time of fulfillment, the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)