This year we, as a NLCF community, are engaging Lent together. Â It’s nice.
However, as I have been talking to people, a couple of common themes emerge. Â One is that the focus is more on what is being given up than the reason or what people hope to gain through the process.
Now some of this is understandable. Â The questions about “what are you giving up?” roll out more easily and can be discussed in different groups more easily than the more probing questions sometimes.
On the other side of the discussion I seem to be running across more “web chatter” about why giving up for Lent is unnecessary, and to take the wording of some, even a bit dangerous to having a close and intimate relationship with Jesus. Â The idea is that Jesus never asked us to give up coffee for him, he asked us to follow him with our whole lives. Â As such, giving up coffee can produce a sense of false piety.
Probably unsurprising to many who know me, I see value in both concerns. Â
To handle the second, well first…
There has always been the practice of intentionally going without in scripture. Â Releasing what we could have access to, either to allow the kingdom of God to function as it should (the practice of landowners not harvesting wheat from the edges of their fields, and leaving some between the rows, so the poor could get this grain comes to mind) or for the purpose of drawing us closer to God personally (the practice of fasting as a means of remaining humbled before God and reminding ourselves of our daily need of him). Â The tithe… there are many more.
So, following God’s direction to take away something we could have and value, is a good and long-standing practice. Â Sure, it can produce false-piety, anything we do for God can. Â But that has much less to do with the process and more to do with the fact that we are the ones engaging in the process.
Now for the first issue, of putting more focus on what we are giving up than on what we are hoping to experience from God…
Again, this is an easy trap to fall into, happens all the time. Â Our challenge is to remember that just removing caffeine from our diet, or desserts, or just shutting down Facebook, or not watching TV at night is intended to remind us of our need for God and to give us more time to spend with Him or the people he is directing us to. Â So the giving up is the start, but it is only the start.
And for many of us, there are things in our lives we battle with daily, and these things seem to large, or have been too large for us to see victory over. Â Starting with giving up something that, while difficult, is doable, can be a great start. Â If someone who has rarely or never exercised wakes up one day and decides to become run the Ironman, that process will likely need to start with a little jogging, a little swimming and a little biking. Â Small starts, can lead to amazing things.
And so, we are delivered to the last day of this posting. Â It is so perfect that this prayer is our prayer for today. Â I have been saving this one as it touches on the the truly profound human suffering that Christ endured. Â Let this be our focus on this Friday, the day that our Messiah was crucified.
I have loved this journey with you. Â It has been a blessing to me even as I hope it has blessed your soul as well.
BLOODY LORD, you are just too real. Blood is sticky, repulsive, frightening. Â We do not want to be stuck with a sacrificial God who bleeds. Â We want a spiritual faith about spiritual things, things bloodless and abstract. Â We want sacrificial spirits, not sacrificed bodies. Â But you have bloodied us with your people Israel and your Son, Jesus. Â We fear that by being Jesus’ people we too might have to bleed. Â If such is our destiny, we pray that your will, not ours, be done. Â AMEN. Â — Stanley Hauerwas.
For the last time in this series.
Peace, Jim
And now, we are at the next to the last post in this long series. Â
THANK YOU LORD, for making us thankful. Â We thank you for life itself; for the energy your passion for your creation gives us; for friendships though which we discover our lives; for love that reminds us we are bodies; for that body called the church, where our bodies are enlarged; for the Eucharist, the great thanksgiving, in which we are made part of your redemption. For all this we thank you. Â AMEN. Â — Stanley Hauerwas
Thankfully with you, Jim
Our prayer for this forty-third day of Lent…
“FEROCIOUS God, we fear your peace. Â We say we want peace, but we confess that war and violence capture our imagination and our spirits. Â Violate our violence with the transforming power of your love. Â Wrench us from all hatreds and loves that are the breeding ground of our violence. Â We cannot will that your peace come, but through the Spirit you make it possible for us to live in your peace. Â So fire us with that Spirit that we world might be flooded with your reconciling kingdom. Â AMEN.” Â — Stanley Hauerwas
Strong words, I will be seeking to live them out today.
Peace, Jim
Wow.
Over the last forty plus days we have walked through this season of Lent together. These prayers, though not perfect, as none that are written just by we humans are, have been a great guide.
I have appreciated the thoughts you have shared along the way. Â So, as we make the turn into the last few days before we celebrate the resurrection of the only Messiah the world has ever known or could know, let us do it with fresh reflective focus.
“GOD of mighty truth, make us people of true speech, obedient speech, so that through our lives you may be revealed to others. Â We live in a world overcome by words that lie — but without words there is no truth. Â Work in us so that our words may be disciplined by your Word and the lies may be revealed. Â As those called to ministry, give us the courage to trust you, knowing you would never call a people to you who would prefer lies to truth. Â AMEN.” Â — Stanley Hauerwas
Peace (and truth) be with you, Jim
Today’s prayer for Lent…
GOD, I am just too busy. Â Too many people, too many questions, too much to do. Â We confess we stay busy because we fear acknowledging our emptiness. Â How amid this busyness do we rest? Â How do we worship you? Â Please create space, which may be other people, to make time, our time, serve you. Â Force us to rest through the activity of prayer so that all our loves and fears might be made perfect in you. Â Help us see how such busy service, if it is service, may be just the rest we need — just the worship we need. Â Finally, and most importantly, save us from false ambition. Â Â AMEN.
— Stanley Hauerwas,  from his book,Â
As is our custom, take tomorrow to reflect on the week and to reflect on the teaching and worship of your church.
Peace, Jim
Happy birthday Tracy! As if there is the tiniest chance that you are actually reading my blog today! 🙂
But either way, let me tell everyone reading this that I not only married WAY out of my league, but I realize that you are still every bit the gift from God to me that you were almost sixteen years ago when we got married. Â The only difference is that I love you more now as I know you so much more now. Â Happy birthday. Â Store-bought cake is on the way! 🙂
Today’s prayer…
FOR Christ’s sake, God, give us the strength to be your servants. Â We are ministers of your gospel, called to service, but we confess we fear the power you bestow on us to be able so to serve. Â Help us, therefore, be servants of your joy, as through joy are we freed from coercion and violence of the everyday. Â We thank you for making us representative of your kingdom. Â AMEN.
— Stanley Hauerwas,  from his book,Â
Peace, Jim
Wow, this is day thirty of Lent! I have to say, that really engaging it this year has made me so much more aware of the approach of Easter. Â Just the small thing of giving up coffee and caffeine has made me so much more aware of not just the sacrifice of Jesus (the most tiny part of it) but it has also reminded me of the value of denying myself.
For some reason, this process, likely because it isn’t just giving up something, but also taking up other things as well, has struck me pretty powerfully. Â I am praying that it continues to do the same for you!
Today’s prayer…
LORD of all wisdom, we thank you for your Word, Jesus Christ. Â Illumine our minds and bodies by that Word so that we might see every part of your creation as a reflection of your glory. Â In particular help us not miss the small and contingent rocks, plants and animals in which children so delight. Â Make us children, so that we might enjoy the sheer giftedness of your creation. Â AMEN.
— Stanley Hauerwas,  from his book,Â
Peace, Jim
Today’s prayer…
GREAT God, humble us so that we will be capable of hearing your Word. Â We thank you for the gift of yourself in the Scripture. Â We rejoice in its complexity. Â Give us the simplicity to be confounded by your Word. Â AMEN.
— Stanley Hauerwas,  from his book,Â
Peace, Jim
Today’s prayer for the season of Lent…
GRACIOUS God, forgive us our presumptions to confess our sin. Only your favor makes it possible for us to know and acknowledge our sins. Â But that same grace heals as it wounds, and for that we are grateful. Â Lead us beyond fascination with our sin into the wonder of friendship with you and one another. Â AMEN.
— Stanley Hauerwas,  from his book,Â