When you
fast. When you give alms. When you pray.
Jesus
is insistent that we do these things. He expects us to do these things.
If we are to live in a right relationship with God we must do these
things.
But there's
the rub. It is God we need to impress and no one else. If our motive
is to impress those around us with our piety then we're on the wrong
track.
Lent is
a time to get back on track, to remember in our humanity how dependent
we are on God's love and forgiveness and to rekindle a spirit of gratitude:
giving something up and taking something on as a way to draw nearer
to God and to be more compassionate toward our neighbor.
Arthur
Lichtenberger, the late Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, understood
this spirit when he offered this Lenten Rule:
Fast
from criticism, and feast on praise;
Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy;
Fast from ill temper, and feast on peace;
Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment;
Fast from jealousy, and feast on humility;
Fast from pride, and feast on love;
Fast from selfishness, and feast on service;
Fast from fear, and feast on faith.
It's the
difference between receiving our ashes made with the sign of the cross
on our foreheads and the words reminding us of our mortality, "Remember
that you are dust and to dust you shall return," and remembering
the first time you had a cross marked on your forehead, then with oil
at your baptism accompanied by a reminder of your salvation, "You
are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own
forever."
Amen.
