Hard to believe, but we have arrived at the beginning of the season of Lent. It comes early this year, with Easter coming on April 5th. The dates move from year to year, but the emphasis remains the same.
Lent is a time of reflection for all of us. We set aside time for earnest prayer, where we seek God’s wisdom and guidance. Some of us participate in fasting from certain foods, depriving ourselves of luxuries. That’s the reason yesterday is known as Fat Tuesday. I know, you thought it was because of Mardi Gras!!! Fat Tuesday is the day we are supposed to use up all the fat and sugar in our pantries so that we only have basic food for the remainder of Lent. All of this is to remind us of the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus on our behalf. More importantly, it is to provide ample time for us to reflect on our actions which separate us from God, and to seek God’s presence with our entire being.
Many people no longer go along with fasting and denial as a part of a Lenten ritual. We live in a time and culture where personal sacrifice is eschewed. We don’t value sacrifice on a wholesale basis, we do our best to avoid it. There is something truly lost when we don’t participate in some way to remind ourselves of all the hurt, all the indifference, all the callousness, all the ways in which we neglect to tend to those around us. Jesus came to show us how to treat one another. Putting the last first, moving from the head of the line to the back. Giving up honored places and seats, so that others may have those places. Sadly, that’s no longer a part of who we are.
There are so many ways for us to fast. We could fast from foul language. We could fast from hateful speech. We could fast from holding grudges. We could fast from thoughts of revenge or retribution. We could fast from commenting against another person. For myself, those kinds of fasts are much harder than resisting chocolate or meat. To concentrate on my thoughts and words, making each be pleasing in God’s sight, that would be truly difficult. I wonder though, how effective it would be? I wonder how my life would be impacted with those kinds of fasts? Would I see others in a different light? Would I be more intentional in honoring God by how I treat and view others?
Fasts can have the potential to truly bring change to us. That, after all, is the real reason for fasts. Its not to show others how strong, or religious, or holy we are. Fasts are meant to help us learn to be better servants of the God who loves us and wants us to love each other.
Our Muslim friends will begin Ramadan at the same time as we begin Lent. They fast all day, using that time to be in prayer. They of course will break their fast in the evenings with Iftar, which is a communal meal. I am in awe of this practice of theirs. They are very devout in observing Ramadan.
What I take away from this is a desire for my devotion to God to be just as strong. I believe I can have a stronger faith life when I am intentional in ways meant to shape me, mold me, and make me a better and more consistent follower of Jesus. I want to think like him, speak like him, show compassion and love like him. Maybe my fast from the things that hinder my walk with Jesus will put me on a clearer path with him.
I pray for all of us to find ways during this season of Lent, where we can draw closer to God, and closer to treating others with the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that Jesus has showered on all of us.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom