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 038: Humility

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12

These verses come after an explanation from Jesus about the order of things, but their order is a little difficult for us to understand, since they go against what we think about higher positions.

I think it is safe to say that some of the most powerful people in this country and in the world are the ones with the most money.  Praise be to God that we actually have some of these rich people who are philanthropists, who give so much of their wealth to those who are in dire situations.  But, at the same time, there are many of the wealthy who like to make sure that we all know that they are well off.  Even worse, still, is that we have many in our churches who hoard wealth and do the bare minimum for the less fortunate.

But Jesus shows us a different way of doing this, both in his words and in his actions.  He has shown that he, the greatest being ever to have walked on this earth, took the time to heal the sick, tend to the poor, and speak to the outcast.  Jesus has given us an example that we need to follow.  Alongside that, Jesus shows that it is not for our personal worth that we do these things, for if that's what we have in our heart - our pride, our position in the food chain - then we will be humiliated.

To follow this teaching means that we need to work.  We need to give not only our treasure, but our time and our talent as well.  It's one thing to write a small check and call it done.  We need to go out there, to volunteer, to teach, to evangelize, to help.  As Presiding Bishop Curry said, we are not called to stay in our place, but we are called to follow Jesus wherever he leads us.  And, as we approach Lent, it is time to prepare ourselves for the journey that leads us through the Passion of Jesus.  Let today be that preparation.

Day 025: The Journey

So Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I belong to God.  But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."  Genesis 50:19-20

Perhaps it is just because of reading stories like this, but I do like to live my life by looking for the reasoning behind all the things that happen.  I like to think about what people mean, especially those who have fallen away from my life or those whom I have removed.

Growing up, I have been taught many times that God has a plan for my life, and I won't always understand it, but I need to maintain my faith.  As I have grown up, I have learned that all of this is very true.  God is taking us in so many directions, but we need to remain faithful to the fact that God is walking with us every step of the way.

The best part of this, though, is that God will show us so many new and different things that we'd never imagined.  Many times, God shows us things we had pushed away.  God brings us new foods that we had pushed away as children.  God brings us new music we had covered our ears from.  God brings us new pictures that we had torn up and burned on our own time.

Let's take the time to listen to God and to be receptive to all of the new and glorious things God has for us.  Let us pause to look all around us, to absorb our new environment rather than barreling through and trampling the delicate plants along the way.