Celebrate Lent

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready. This is a time for us to explore the mysteries of the universe, looking beneath the surface – within ourselves -- examining our own motives and desires, and ascertaining exactly what our commitment is: to what, to whom, and what it means.

These days, many of our Christian brothers and sisters observe Lent – but, too few celebrate Lent.

You have heard that Lent is a time of giving something up, a time devoid of joy, a time for looking dismal in public: wise-cracking joking is out, grim looking faces are in.

But, you know, dismal is not what Lent should be about. True, fasting is one of the traditional disciplines that Christians have used through the years as a way getting in touch with divine within; however, too often a fasting person begins to present a gloomy-Gus personae to the world around them. As if to say, "Look at me, I am trying to be holy."

But, something is dreadfully wrong with this picture. I have a cartoon that shows the preacher in pulpit reading from the Gospel:

"And in Matthew 16 Jesus says, ‘And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do . . ."

And the congregation is pictured with the gloomiest of gloomy expressions on their faces, while each and every one is pictured as extremely well-fed. Fasting is obviously not something they ever do. But, they have the gloomy face down pat.

Well, that is really not too unlike us, is it?

Because Presbyterians rebelled against all things Catholic, Lent was never celebrated in most Presbyterian churches until recent years. But, Lent is such a rich time. It is an excellent opportunity for us to really focus on things that matter.

A colleague laments that while many Christians observe Lent these days, too few celebrate it.

Lent is meant to remind us that the days are getting longer –

Spring is right around the corner. Signs of life are preparing to bud right in front of our eyes.

And, we need to prepare ourselves to see these signs.

Here at Christ Church, we focus on the abundant life Jesus told his disciples was his raison’ d’etre: I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.

That’s Easter is about.

For us, that’s what Lent is about this year.

Each Sunday during Lent we will focus on basic needs all of us have:

How You Can Find Meaning and Purpose in Life

How You Can Overcome Loneliness

How to Become Appreciated and Respected

How to be Listened To and Heard How to Find a Place – A Community of Friends, Encouragers and Helpers

This year, don’t do as the hypocrites do, wash your face and comb your hair.

This is Lent.

Celebrate it with your family and friends.

Celebrate it through your actions and words.

Serve it for breakfast, and lunch and supper.

See you in church,

Clyde

Pastor's Pen from The People's Steeple, March 2003

In our sacred text, the one we call Emmanuel (which means God Is With Us) said,

"I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly!"

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