Lent - Meditation

Genesis 37:1-11                   1 Corinthians 1:1-19                                   Mark 1:1-13

Today’s Gospel is the story of a family, God’s family, and particularly a Father and His Son. As a boy Jesus was obedient and faithful, as He went about His daily life; however, somewhere, somehow, He knew that He had a very special relationship with His God, and because of that He would one day be required to give something in return. Most definitely the life of Jesus was a “process, not an event”! Jesus’ life unfolded over centuries, for like ours, it began long before His birth, and as we know has continued on long after His death.

 We can only imagine how His heart leapt when his Father finally acknowledged him as his Son, to the entire world. Our identity, our personhood, is a most precious thing as we see clearly when people who have been adopted are finally reunited with their biological parents. It is startling when we read that immediately after this affirmation of identity His Father sends him into the wilderness to be tested. We may well ask, what does all this say to you and to me? One thing we know beyond doubt is that Jesus taught by modeling behavior. So, if He were tested and passed that test, then we had better learn something from that exercise too. 

Learning to accept the process of testing one’s behavior, as a method of helping one see the core of the work to be done, is extremely important. There is nothing sadder than someone who is so self- centered that they are totally unable to learn from a life experience, but only spend precious time moping and feeling sorry for themselves. Jesus needs disciples who know how to step out in the sureness of His love and empowerment, to take their part in transforming their corner of the world for God. The most effective way to transform our society is to allow ourselves to be transparent, so that others are able to see Jesus in us. Lent is a special six weeks when we are asked to center on methods available to us to make some huge changes in how we live our daily lives. 

These very short six weeks ask us to make some important changes in how we live and move among those with whom we share our island home. If we are willing to make these six weeks all about Jesus and the sacrifices He made for us and not all about us, we will rise on Easter Morning, stronger in our renewed faith having come through our yearly time of testing and having reached the other side, and be able to claim our crown from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.

Poem - Lent Meditation

THE FIRST TWO VERSES of the following poem are a meditation on part of Luke 24:1-8, 13-25. The last two verses draw on other resurrection accounts (John 20:24-29; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:50-58). 

They came alone: some women who remembered him,
Bowed down with spices to anoint his corpse.
Through darkened streets, they wept their way to honor him –
The one whose death had shattered all their hopes.
“Why do you look for life among the sepulchers?
He is not here. He’ s risen, as he said.
Remember how he told you while in Galilee:
The Son of Man will die — and rise up from the dead.”

The two walked home, a study in defeat and loss,
Explaining to a stranger why the gloom –
How Jesus seemed to be the King before his cross,
How all their hopes lay buried in his tomb.
“How slow you are to see Christ’ s glorious pilgrimage
Ran through the cross” — and then he broke the bread.
Their eyes were opened, and they grasped the Scripture’ s truth:
The man who taught them had arisen from the dead.

He was a skeptic: not for him that easy faith
That swaps the truth for sentimental sigh.
Unless he saw the nail marks in his hands himself,
And touched his side, he’ d not believe the lie.
Then Jesus came, although the doors were shut and locked.
“Repent of doubt, and reach into my side;
Trace out the wounds that nails left in my broken hands.
And understand that I who speaks to you once died.”

Long years have passed, and still we face the fear of death,
Which steals our loved ones, leaving us undone,
And still confronts us, beckoning with icy breath,
The final terror when life’ s course is run.
But this I know: the Savior passed this way before,
His body clothed in immortality.
The sting’ s been drawn: the power of sin has been destroyed.
We sing: Death has been swallowed up in victory.

LENT

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist,Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also byRoman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week ofOrthodox Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday (called Clean Monday) and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

Lent is a forty-day season of preparation for Easter. Lent always begins on a Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday.

Why 40 days? Because, of the bible story that tells of how Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Lent, then, is a time of fasting, prayer, temptation and repentance for believers. Lent is not required anywhere in scriptures, but it has been a custom, which Christians have practiced for most of the last two thousand years.

In many languages, the word "Lent" actually means "fast." This is where the custom of giving up something for Lent originated.

However, just to confuse things, Lent is actually 46 days rather than 40 days. Why? Because the 40 days of Lent are supposed to be days of fasting, which means days of discipline and self-restraint. But Sunday, the day designated as the Lord's day by Christians, should never be a day of fasting, but a day of celebration. So each Sunday Christians suspend Lenten disciplines and celebrate. Lent is 40 "fasting" days spread out over a total of 46 days beginning on Ash Wednesday.

The focus of Lent was always threefold:
It was a time to prepare new converts for baptism through intensive classes and instruction.
It was a time for long-standing Christians to review their lives and renew their commitment to their beliefs.
It was a time for backsliders to be re-indoctrinated into the faith.

In every case, it is supposedly a time for serious, disciplined self-examination. For most Christians, though, it is simply a time when they give up eating a favorite food.

Put simply, Lent is a time for self-examination. Here are some questions upon which everyone should meditate during Lent:
Am I sharing gladly what I have with others, especially the stranger and the poor?
Do I have a gracious and patient attitude with others, especially those who irritate me?
Is it time for a change or a growth in my Bible study and the way I view my faith?
What are the lurking problems, which still plague me?
Am I as thoughtful and forgiving of family as others, or do I take my frustrations out on them?
Do I speak up for the maligned and oppressed, or do I remain silent in order to remain popular?