LENT 2011

 

 

Traditionally, Lent is a time of preparation, a time of introspection, a time of fasting before the Lord.  How often I can remember being exhorted at Lent to consider giving up some cherished possession, activity, or habit so as to spend more time focusing on my relationship with the Lord.  Then I would be able to replace my favored activity with prayer and meditation.  I would be able thus to humble myself, and, metaphorically, sit in sackcloth and ashes.

 

Looking back upon Lenten seasons past I find that such sacrifices on my part have accomplished little.

 I see no lasting change in myself, and I see no lasting benefit of these sacrifices for others. 

And so, I wondered if there was some fault or sin in me that kept away any

true spiritual benefit from these exercises in self-deprivation. 

 

One day, during this just-past Epiphany season, a light dawned (very Epiphany appropriate). 

God spoke in Isaiah 58 to both His ancient people and to believers today:

             ‘Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? 

             Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 

             Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?’

             ‘Is not this the fast that I choose:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the cords of the yoke,

             to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

             Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  and to bring the homeless poor into your house;

             when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?’ (vs. 5-7)

 

Let me presume to present before you the Lord’s chosen fast for this Lenten season as the devotion of

Our Redeemer’s people.  Rather than deprive yourself of what you need and/or want, instead,

make deliberate daily effort to provide for others what they desperately need and want:

             1.  Food: ‘Is it not to share your bread with the hungry’

             2.  Shelter: ‘and to bring the homeless poor into your house;

             3.  Clothing: ‘when you see the naked, to cover him,

             4.  And above all - LOVE: ‘and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?’

 

Let me presume to present before you that God’s chosen fast is giving yourself and your resources for those who need them.  Do so, even as Jesus gave himself and his resources (his very life’s blood) for you.