Bishop LaBelle shares his reflections for Lent this year and encourages us to join him in fasting this Lenten season.
Hello, dear friends in the Diocese of Olympia.
We’re about to embark on the holy season of Lent, and on Ash Wednesday, clergy will invite us to the observance of a holy Lent in the name of the church, calling us to self-examination and repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial, then by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.
One of the things that’s always been interesting to me is how people talk about fasting. We often give up something like chocolate or maybe meat, and yet when I started going deeper into interreligious relationships with Muslim and Jewish neighbors, I’ve realized that we were the only of the Abrahamic faiths that didn’t really engage in a fast during our holy season like they did. This year, Ramadan will begin actually on Ash Wednesday, and our Muslim neighbors will be fasting from sunrise to sunset each day throughout that season, that 28 days, including giving up water.
I often wonder why it is that we don’t fast as much together as Christians, and so this year I’m especially calling us to do that fast. Not because it’s an opportunity for us to say how great we are, but rather to engage in this practice that was seen throughout holy scripture, especially at times of political turmoil, for needing to make lament and for prayer. Jesus himself reminds us again and again that we are to fast, especially during those times that are difficult.
So this year for Lent, I’m gonna be giving up a lunch every day through those 40 days, and then when instead of gathering together for that meal, I’m gonna be going and taking some time to pray the Jesus prayer, using this prayer bracelet, just going through and praying again and again, “Jesus, son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.” Because we all know that that’s where we begin, right? That it’s the self-reflection and our need to make amends with God and with each other. Well, that’s the work of Lent in order that we might be prepared for Easter.
I encourage you to join me in this fast of engaging in that work together. There are some carve-outs, of course, those who might be needing to eat because of medical reasons or they’re elderly or maybe a past experience with an eating disorder, and so fasting in this way is not helpful. But together we can engage in this spiritual practice. We can do it in a way that brings us and draws us closer to God.
So I hope you’ll join me on the Lenten fast, that whatever you choose to do, it will be reflective of your desire to draw closer to God so that when we do get to Easter, we may celebrate with one another of Christ’s overcoming of the grave.
The Rt. Rev. Philip LaBelle
Bishop Philip LaBelle
The Rt. Rev. Philip N. LaBelle is the Ninth Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. The Diocese elected Bishop LaBelle on May 18, 2024. His Consecration and Ordination as bishop was on September 14, 2024.
Bishop LaBelle previously served as rector of St. Mark’s Church in Southborough, Massachusetts. During his time in the Diocese of Massachusetts, Bishop LaBelle did the following:
- Co-led the Mission Strategy Committee.
- Served on Executive Committee and Diocesan Council
- Directed the Fresh Start program.
He co-founded Southborough Neighbors for Peace with Dr. Safdar Medina in their small town. The organization did the following:
- Hosted peace vigils.
- Began a community-wide Iftar dinner during Ramadan.
- Established an interfaith Thanksgiving service.
- Sponsored other bridge-building events.
Additionally, Bishop LaBelle served on the core team of Central Mass. Connections in Faith, an organization centered on fostering relationships and learning about other religious faiths through quarterly gatherings.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.