Incense - Lent 2020
O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
|Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:1-2
The smoke of incense ascends to the heavens, reminding us of our prayers heard by a God who is all-powerful and creative. The aroma of the incense lingers, reminding us of the constant presence of our God. In the Old Testament, incense was a powerful image of prayers lifted up to the maker of Heaven and earth.
In many Native traditions, the burning of sage and tobacco serves a similar purpose. The smoke rises to Heaven, drawing our attention upward. There is an understanding of a creator of all things visible and invisible. The aroma is a sensory reminder of the worship and prayers that have been offered.
All nations have a need to be in connection with God. We all recognize the gap that exists between creator and creature. We understand the brokenness and fallen nature of the world around us. As Christians, we are blessed to know our prayers are heard because of our Lord Jesus. He has taken on human flesh and become part of creation. His life is lived perfectly. His death is our sacrifice. With his stripes, we are healed. We can offer our prayers and our incense confident in God’s love, his provision, and his protection.
While God does not answer all our prayers the way we want him to, he hears and answers and loves as a kind Heavenly Father responds to dearly loved children.
We are privileged to follow the Savior, the one who prayed perfectly. We seek to bless and serve others in our world as we worship him, sharing his love, his grace, and his story.
Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let Your loving-kindness descend on us that, with purified minds, we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host and may glorify you forever. Amen. (Lutheran Service Book, pg. 247)