Lent and what to do

Lent is not a self-improvement program.

One of the great Lenten temptations is to give something up in hopes that we can become better or improved somehow.  In other words, it is tempting to give up eating cake or give up sitting around and watching TV, or give up drinking wine, or give up cussing…

            It is a long held Lenten tradition to give up the vices that we love so dearly in order that we become new improved Lent shaped versions of ourselves.  And there may well be a number of things we should do differently just to be better people, but to determine if a practice or discipline is worthy of being called Lenten, then we must ask why?

            Why are we giving up whatever we choose to give up?  Is the reason self-serving?  If I eat healthy food I will look better in blue jeans.  Or, is the reason God and neighbor serving?  My lazy way of sitting transfixed in front of the television really is a blockade between me and God, between me and my family.

            The devil wanted Jesus to take power for power’s sake, because the devil wants the self to serve and celebrate the self.  Me following me in service to me.

            But Jesus said, “No, God’s will is that we serve each other and love nothing, seek nothing, long for nothing, before we love God and each other.”

*

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am big time into wellness.  I think we should all eat better, read more, and exercise at least three times a week.  So, sure lets’ join the YMCA and get library cards.   I’m all for it.

            But, following Jesus, following Jesus through Lent into Easter should not be about self-improvement for the sake of self, rather the plan for making our way through Lent should be about loving God and each other more perfectly - which is the only self-improvement plan that actually works.

*

As the gospel goes, the devil was hoping that Jesus would do tricks like a trained pup.

The devil challenged Jesus to do three things – (1) to make bread out of stones; (2) to take control of all the kingdoms of the world, and (3) to bait God into sending angels down from heaven to protect him.

            Jesus hadn’t eaten in forty days, I would have caved in a second, but Jesus said, “No, not your will, not my will, but God’s will be done.”

            There is something quite fascinating in this passage that has never occurred to me before. – So, the devil tempts Jesus to do three things, right?  Jesus says “No” to the devil, but if we track through the rest of the gospel narrative, we find that indeed Jesus does do these three things, only he does them according to God’s terms, not according to the temptations of Satan.

            See what you think.

            The devil asks Jesus to magically make food for himself from a rock on the ground.  (1) Jesus says, “No,” and then a few chapters later, he feeds five thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread.

            The devil tempts Jesus with power, saying, I can give you control over all the kingdoms of the world, you will be the most highly favored prince, you will have power and acclaim, people will bow before you and you will rule from a mighty throne in the finest palace. (2)

            Jesus says, “No,” and then on the day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into the holy city of Jerusalem, royalty indeed, only he is the humble Prince of Peace riding on the back of a donkey while the people dance in the street and shout Hosanna! and Alleluia! and carpet his way with branches of palm and the coats off their backs.

            Finally, the devil tempts Jesus saying, Throw yourself off this high place and cause God to send angels to protect and save you.” (3)

            And Jesus says, “No” and then towards the end of the gospel arc he allows himself to be lifted up high onto the cross where he is mocked and killed, then lowered into a tomb hewn from rock and indeed God comes to him, and what better protection than Resurrection?

Can you see it?

Jesus said, No, to every opportunity to take power for the sake of self glorification.  Jesus said “No” to the devil’s offer of worldly, self-serving power, in order to say Yes to God and then reveal God’s vision of true strength, which is the holy power of love.

            (1) Love that provides food, spiritual and literal food, for thousands of hungry people gathered on a grassy hillside; (2) Love that rides into town on a donkey and prizes as prestigious humility and servant hood over any other measure of merit; (3) Love that by some great mystery bridges the distance between us and God, and protects (or saves) the world by his death and Resurrection.

*

The Christian practice of Lent, and indeed the Christian life in general is not about self improvement, it is about communion - that is drawing close, close, close, and closer to God and each other.

            If your vice is a blockade between you and God, then by all means cut it out in the spirit of Lent.  But if our giving something up for Lent is about being a better me, then perhaps we should consider something else for our Lenten practice.

*

I know what you’re thinking, Okay, you fancy preacher, you’ve wrecked Lent for us, no more giving stuff up, now what do you want us to do!

*

The Bible has a number of suggestions for getting close to God and our neighbors that would work great as Lenten disciplines. 

In the 15^th chapter of Romans Paul writes, “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves, [but for the good purpose of building up our neighbors.]”

Now, that would be some kind of Lenten discipline!  Committing to be kind and decent to those weak folks who drive us crazy, even to our wits end – God help us!  It would be far easier to give up television.

            In the second chapter of Romans Paul writes, “Do not judge.” 

Can you imagine a Lenten practice of not being judgmental?   I’d rather give up cake.

            In Matthew five Jesus says, “Love your enemies.”  What if we focused on loving our enemies for these forty days instead of wishing them dead?  Taking an exercise class sounds better than loving the unlovable.

            At the end of John’s gospel Jesus says to Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.”  How’s that for a Lenten discipline – every time we go to the grocery store to purchase something for ourselves, buy something for the food pantry too.

            In Mark’s gospel Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell what he owns and give the money to the poor.

            I am not any good at selling stuff, (you know how some people can sell anything?  That’s not me), but I could pick one thing a week out of my closet to give away to Coordinated Charities or Goodwill and they could sell it for their ministry to the poor.

*

Here we are in Lent.  Now, will we be a people self-led and follow the devil into the wilderness for an exercise in self-help and self-improvement? - Hoping we’ll look good in our Easter outfits at the end of Lent, or shall we follow Jesus through the shadows of Lent saying No to the temptation to grab power for ourselves, and shouting Yes to God’s Easter call to love –so that we can draw closer to God and each other?

Come, let’s go follow Jesus.

            Amen.