Lent, Day 4: The Journey

"If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday."  Isaiah 58:9b-10

We've got a journey ahead of us, the journey of Lent.  It has been going on for a few days, but the first few days are often the hardest for those observing some sort of fast.  But, if you are one who eases your fast on Sunday, then the first break is near!  If not, then keep on truckin'.

Many times, when we look at the Lenten fast, we think about ways that we can improve ourselves.  We look inwards.  We add prayer, we read the Bible, we talk to God, we take on a special diet, among other things.  However, Lent is not only about our own personalities.  It's about how we live with those around us.  None of us are so far removed from the world that we do not interact with someone else (especially if you are reading this blog).  Today's reading brings that point home.  When we start to accuse others of anything, when we judge people of doing something wrong (especially in our eyes), then we start to bring a darkness around our lives.  Rather than spending time with God, we distance ourselves.  Rather than walking in the light, we fall behind, running towards the darkness.  That's not what we want.

Now, the verses above are talking about literal things, but we can read deeper into them.  It's not just the pointing of the finger or the speaking of evil that keeps us in the darkness.  It's the negative thoughts.  It's the jealousy.  It's the anger that boils up inside of you.  Instead, we should be trying to resolve these issues.  One of the easiest ways of dealing with this is by leaving everything to God.  We need to practice loving each other rather than dividing ourselves.  When we listen, when we talk, we can learn more about each other and learn to live in harmony.  It's a way for us not to get too stressed or concerned with those around us.  God will deal with that.

The latter words about giving to the hungry and the needy are also things that we can take more deeply.  Of course, it is always good to volunteer at the food banks and donate to charities.  There are countless ways for us to donate our times.  However, sometimes we will go out of our way to mend relations with people we don't know rather than resolving issues that are around us.  Maybe we don't get along with that one person who used to be our friend.  Maybe a political argument went astray.  Maybe we haven't spoken to someone for a very long time.  These can be the people that are needy as well.  We should take the time during Lent to mend our relationships with those around us.  Lent is not supposed to be easy, but hopefully we will be purified throughout the journey.  Let's pray that we will be ready for our ministry after our fast.

Day 123: Spiritual Awakening

"But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich."  Luke 18:23

I read something recently that said, "The truth hurts a lot before it feels better."  That's how I feel about this verse.

Jesus speaks to us all through a Gospel of truth that seeks to save us out of pure love for us.  Of course, the truth is the first part that is going to hurt.  It's going to hurt because it's getting us out of our comfort zone.  It's the thing that will call you out of your bed and into the streets.  It's what will reveal all the imperfections in your life that you have grown to become quite used to.  Jesus wakes us up.

I'm writing this from a hospital bed, where I have come to after quite a number of rounds of tests in order to find what's causing my stomach to feel bad.  I find that the Gospel works in the same way.  It puts us into sometimes seemingly uncomfortable situations in order for our doctor, Jesus Christ, to let us know what we need to do to improve.  Do we need to eat less of the gluttony that exists in our lives in the form of spending money and eating unreasonably exorbitant food?  Do we need to exercise more in our lives as spiritual beings, with prayer and reading?  Do we need to calm down from the stresses of life?  Jesus is there to tell us what to do and how to do it.

In this reading, we find that there is a rich man who is sorrowful after hearing that in order to attain ultimate spiritual greatness, he needs to give up his money.  I interpret this not so much as a condemnation of money, but as a condemnation of the care of money.  This man has defined himself by his money.  How many of us are guilty of similar things?  Do we like to show off our worth with our clothes, shoes, cars?  Do we like to flaunt our degrees with high language and off-putting, vacuous philosophical discussions?

Jesus is calling us to remember to care for all those around us.  We need to give our time, talent, and treasures to all of those around us in order to continue the work of the Kingdom of God.  We need to get up out of our comfort zones so that those who live in discomfort can have a breath of relief.  In fact, we might even find new relief when we find ourselves out in the world doing the work we are called to do.

Day 107: God's Gift

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  Luke 11:11-13

This is one of my favorite passages from the bible because it explains the grace of God so well.

We know how to carry out transactions so well that it just becomes second nature to us.  Yet, that by itself is a display of courtesy towards our neighbors.  We are prone to give whatever anybody requests.  Now, that doesn't go without acknowledging that there can be an entirely different context surrounding these occasions.  We can give things over with an attitude.  We could even give things that are of poor quality.  But in general, we will give when we are asked.

Imagine being in a classroom and somebody asks for a pencil.  Unless it's during an important test or competition, there is always someone there to give over a pencil, even if it's short, chewed up, and without an eraser.  These are the kinds of things Jesus is referring us to.

Paul has taken many opportunities throughout his letters to explain what the Holy Spirit is.  It's kind of like a gift basket for us, with everything being useful (unlike a basket with a few things we could just do away with).  The Holy Spirit is something that guides us in our living.  It's a mode of communication from the Holy Trinity to us.  It's also something that drives us to pursue godly things in our lives.

So, if we can ask our friends and (occasionally) our enemies for things and receive what we'd asked for, how much better would be the things that come straight from God?  God, who is all loving, all caring, all forgiving, has shown us a gift.  We are receiving a gift that comes out of all things that are good in the universe.  The Holy Spirit is good.  God's gift is perfect.

Day 069: Giving

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

God provides.  It's as simple as that.  God provides us a means to live our lives, but God also gives us a means by which we can give.

Receiving something to give is something we don't think about that often.  We want all the goodness that comes our way just to benefit ourselves, yet we are called to give.  In fact, the notion of giving can seem quite difficult for many of us, especially if we don't have the highest paying job or the most flexible hours.  But this passage above states the contrary: God provides us with ways to give.

So what the next step?  In order to give, it takes discernment.  From another perspective, we can think of our giving in the way that we might give a gift at a birthday party or for any other holiday.  We take time to think about what we will give, usually having many reasons behind our gifts.  In the same way, we should consider how we are going to give to our neighbors and/or our church.  The above says that God calls us to be cheerful givers, and in the Old Testament, we are told that we need to give thoughtfully to God - we are to give the very best to God.  In that case, we can see that we won't all give the same gift.  In fact, it is the diversity of the gifts that we can give that makes this a rewarding experience.

Think about all the different things that a church does.  It provides a space for worship, which requires funding for the electricity (air conditioning/heating) and water.  It provides for the community that serves there, which requires not only funding for the different staff members, but also requires many who are willing to work and volunteers.  It provides methods of worship, which require things from musicians, to books, to teachers, to speakers, and to many other sorts of people.  In this description of a church, we can see that there are already many ways to give.  If those aren't enough, pray to God to help you discern what your best way to give is.

If one doesn't feel comfortable teaching, however, she shouldn't donate her time as a teacher.  If one doesn't feel comfortable cooking, he shouldn't donate his time as a cook.  All of these things require lots of prayer and meditations so that the giving can be beneficial for both you and the receiver.  In the end, you as a giver will be a receiver, for the one who sows abundantly will reap abundantly.

This Lent, direct your thoughts and prayers towards discerning how you can give to your community, church, and/or your friends and family.

Day 068: Charitable Giving

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."                        2 Corinthians 8:9

Paul does a very good job at giving us some very concrete images for some otherwise complex subjects.  I feel that many people like to downplay the importance that many of the writers in the bible placed on giving.  And this is not just giving offerings to God or the temple, but also giving to others (which can be seen as a form of godly giving).

In order to explain the importance of this giving, though, Paul begins by explaining that Jesus gave us everything.  Jesus became poor so that we might become rich.  And that's the ultimate sign of grace and mercy from God.  Despite the fact that we have been shown so much mercy, we decide many times to run away with what we are given.  We want to put all that God has given us in place just for our own benefit.  But that's not what Jesus did.  Jesus suffered more than any of us has and handed himself over so that he could die on our behalf, so that he could be offered in our place.

We are called, therefore, to perpetuate this mercy towards all of those around us.  We are called to show mercy to those who haven't been shown it by all of those above them.  We are called to be support for those who have lost it all.  We are called to bring up those who have been trampled on the ground.

Paul gives an interesting caveat, though, saying that we are not supposed to burden ourselves so that others may become higher than us.  When I think about all the types of support that Jesus has given me, I think about how many different ways I can give to those around me who are in need.  I am by no means the richest person out there, and I don't think that I ever will be.  Yet, I know that I have been blessed to be able to pursue my own dreams without worrying so much about finances, thanks to my mom and grandparents who have supported me in so many different ways.  How can I give?  I can bring others to God, because that's how I find comfort in difficult times, and who doesn't want comfort in the difficult times?  I can volunteer my time to help those in need.  I can dedicate so much of what I am towards my neighbors.

In the same way, we are all called to give to our neighbors in different ways.  Sure, money might seem to be the easiest way because of the fact that it can be transformed into so many different things.  However, just as we are going to read this upcoming Sunday, any gift that we give will be gladly accepted before God, for God will transform each gift into something magnificent.

Take some time this Lent to see what time or talents you have that you can give to those who are in need.  In fact, look around you to see who is close to you who might be in need.  Spend time with your relatives who don't get company that often.  Talk to those of your friends who might seem down.  Be a support to your neighbors.