Practicing Lent
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus is right in the middle of The Sermon on the Mount. His sermon begins with The Beatitudes, which turn conventional wisdom upside down, and goes on from there, inviting us to upend everything we’d always considered normal in favor of his in-breaking Kingdom and its priorities. In Jesus’ kingdom, murder isn’t only wrong, but so are the hateful thoughts that precede it. Likewise, adultery isn’t just immoral, but so are the thoughts which lead up to the act. When we are mistreated, we are invited not to retribution, but to reconciliation.
Then, Jesus turns his attention to the practices of faith. I wonder if he isn’t shaping his comments here in response to the abuses of faith among his contemporaries. He addresses giving and says that when we give, we shouldn’t announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do but should do it secretly. Similarly, when we pray, we shouldn’t make a big show of it, but do so privately and with sincerity. And when we fast, we shouldn’t mope around like we’re about to die, but should carry on normally so that no one really notices. I get the sense that the people in the crowd had seen plenty of moping fasters, heard plenty of trumpeted offerings, and endured many a loud flowery prayer. Jesus’ words, no doubt, struck a chord of authenticity with them.
I have been asking Jesus to show me how to honor him in the Season of Lent. In the past I have, “given something up for Lent,” as we like to say. I once gave up caffeine and I was groggy and a little grumpy, but I don’t remember being much more holy. One year I gave up potato chips (my favorite vegetable). I quickly learned that tortilla chips offered a similar salty buzz and… I still wasn’t much more holy.
This morning as I read Jesus’ words here in Matthew 6, I asked for direction. Here is what I learned.
It is in the “yes” I say to Jesus that the “no’s” of Lent find their place.
The value of Lent is not that I determine what I should do so that I can be a better Christian. The value of Lent is that it invites me to focus my thoughts, appetites, and actions on Jesus.
When I offer my whole self to Jesus, it becomes obvious what I must give up.
Remember Zacchaeus? He was the short man who collected taxes and most likely extorted his fellow Jews. Jesus spotted him up in a tree, gawking in curiosity and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home for a meal. Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed with the love and grace of Jesus that he immediately began to share his ill-gotten gains. In his experience of Jesus, in his decision to give his life over to Jesus’ ways, Zacchaeus instantly sees what in his life must go. It was in the “yes” he said to Jesus that the “no’s” of his old life found their place.
The fisherman disciples are no different. Jesus finds them working hard at their craft and calls them to follow. Their “yes” to follow Jesus simultaneously results in their “no” to the profession they had known their entire lives. In the “yes” they said to Jesus, the “no’s” to what must be left behind are obvious. You can’t follow Jesus all over the countryside and still be a fisherman.
Let’s surrender ourselves completely to Jesus. Because, in the “yes” I say to Jesus, the “no’s” of Lent find their place. What stands in between you and complete surrender to Jesus? If you ask him, I believe he will reveal that to you. Whatever that is, whatever Jesus reveals, those are the things that we can build into Lenten disciplines. Those are things that must go.
If caffeine or potato chips really are the things that stand in the way of your surrender to Jesus, don’t let me or anybody else keep you from surrendering those things to him. But I suspect he has some other ideas for us.
In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus focuses on three things: giving, praying, and fasting. As you consider Lent this year, perhaps ask these questions:
“Jesus, how do you want me to give?
How do you want me to pray?
How do you want me to fast?”
I see these as steps of further surrender. I already give, pray, and fast, but this season Jesus is asking me for something more meaningful and less legalistic. Each day of the Lenten Season I will seek to listen for the Spirit to guide me to moments of generosity, prayer, and fasting. Then each morning, I will evaluate my progress from the day before. I’m hopeful that I will see some amazing things as I journey these 40 days.
That’s my plan. So, let’s tie all of this together. If I want to be generous (my “yes” to Jesus) I may have to give up something else (my “no” to self). If I want to practice prayer (my “yes” to Jesus) I may have to surrender some sleep or some other activity to make room (my “no” to self). And if I want to practice fasting (my “yes” to Jesus), I will almost certainly have to discipline my appetites (my “no” to self).
What is it that Jesus is asking of you? If something stands in the way of that, it has to go. Lent is the season for that.
I’m praying for you this Lenten Season. As we journey together let’s encourage one another.
Remember, It is in the “yes” I say to Jesus that the “no’s” of Lent find their place.
-Sam
