The Lord gives us eyes to see, really see, if (BIG IF) we are willing, open, and present to him. Perhaps this season of Lent will be an opportunity for us to pay attention to what God is doing in the midst of what is frightening us as a nation and as individuals.
For too long, this country has cast God aside in favor of our own wants and desires, rather than concern for others. Things we thought were so important may now be hindering our ability to survive what we’re facing today: so much anger, violence, and uncertainty.
We are in the midst of Lent, yet the empty pews in churches of every faith are a stark reminder that we may have lost the very ground of our being. Perhaps this is the perfect time to find our way back to God – lest we forget how much he sacrificed for us.
How are we actually living our new reality? The answer runs the full spectrum between those who are frightened and immovable, to many who seem to be indifferent, to those who are fighting back.
Yes, these are, and will probably continue to be, trying times as we suffer the physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic impact unlike anything we have ever known. But, hold on…don’t leave me for a stiff drink yet! I have GOOD NEWS. Really!
Here we are experiencing so much uncertainty right in the midst of the most holy season of Lent. We have no idea what the outcome will be, but we do know how the Passion of Christ plays out. So, let me ask you a question: what has the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus meant to you up until now? To make this work, you have to be brutally honest. Okay?
Many faiths observe various practices during Lent. Some have requirements or suggestions for observing this season: fasting and abstinence, unless you’re old like me. We are encouraged to attend services, pray, read scripture, and share our abundance with the poor. Maybe throwing in a confession somewhere if you’re so inclined and riddled with guilt.
We are called, just as his disciples were, to surrender our self-will just as Jesus did when he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). And “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24).
So, let’s take an honest look at our individual observances of Lent, shall we? I’ll go first:
• I used to love fish fries when I was still a beer drinker and less concerned about recycled hydrogenated oil – YUCK!
• I do Intermittent Fasting for my health regularly, but my “spiritual” fasting practices are, honestly, pathetic. Okay – non-existent.
• Going to Church always felt like a requirement to have my card punched once a week. Sort of like getting that sticker we flash around to impress others, “I voted” or “I Gave Blood”.
I gave up my ambition of being Saint Linda and began to give myself to God for His purpose, even though I had no idea what that purpose was. He seemed a bit wiser than I always imagined myself to be.
Okay, guys, I’m standing here with my sins exposed. It’s your turn. Don’t worry, no one’s going to call you out. You don’t have to expose yourself to judgment like I just did. Just take a quiet moment to think about it, and then we’ll move on. Go ahead, I’ll wait right here.
Okay, so Pope Francis offered some powerful words to consider during Lent: “Jesus’ Pasch is not a past event; rather, through the power of the Holy Spirit it is ever present, enabling us to see and touch with faith the flesh of Christ in those who suffer.”
And there it is.
God has been making this call to us since Jesus walked the earth; the call to get off our butts and care for the poor and suffering among us. Jesus was here in the flesh to show us how that should be done. And how do we respond today? Many heed that call, some half-heartedly drop coins in a beggar’s hat, while others simply aren’t listening. Not much has changed in two-thousand-some-odd years, I suppose.
So, let’s consider the three phases of Jesus’ Passion: His life, death, and resurrection, in light of our call to imitate him:
• His life: Of his thirty-three years here (give or take a few), on the surface, it appears that only the last three were spent
fulfilling his purpose. Three years. That’s it. I’m seventy-seven and hate to admit how many years I have wasted. But Jesus wasn’t wasting his life. He was growing into his purpose.
When I look back on my life: all the mistakes and missteps, the hurt inflicted on me and by me, the selfishness and rejection, there would have been no way for me to be all God created me to be because I didn’t even know who that was. But, I do now! I don’t know how much time I have left here. But it doesn’t matter because time has no meaning for God, so it shouldn’t for us either. Each day is a new opportunity to bring Christ to our suffering brothers and sisters. And it isn’t just a privilege; it’s a responsibility we all have.
• His death: Jesus knew that his constant presence was a threat to the status quo. He knew that every choice he made to expose the rich and powerful would risk his very life. He didn’t hold back from calling them out with choice words to describe them, even though it surely sealed his fate: “Hypocrites, brood of vipers, prideful, whitewashed tombs, legalists disguising an inner corruption. They preach, but do not practice” (Matt. 23). His death was inevitable.
Most of us will not be called to sacrifice our lives, but we are all called to die to our self-will so that God can use us in whatever way he has already predetermined. That might mean having the courage to step into what may be uncomfortable, probably risky, perhaps even scary. But expect it to be a wild adventure because God doesn’t do ordinary! You know that. Right?
• His resurrection: When Jesus died, everyone believed they would be returning to their ordinary, mundane lives. Alrighty then, that was a wild and crazy ride! We could liken it to that special vacation we always dreamed about and finally got to experience. The difference is that we probably have pictures to reminisce over; they got nothing, not even a stinkin’ T-shirt to commemorate their time with him.
And for us? Resurrection does not mean a new birth, but a “rebirth”. It means returning to our original holiness. Before we were born, God created us with Love, for Love. Saying “yes” to God means saying “yes” to our true selves and “no” to the lies we have believed about our unworthiness.
Jesus’ Passion was a seeming disaster turned triumph. The conventional thinking of our time is that we can’t handle tragedy and suffering; that we will fall apart and resort to some primal survival instinct. I choose to look instead at the myriad examples of people around the world who are showing love, compassion, and hope. And out of the ashes of disaster comes the gift of the blessedness and fullness of our humanity. Yes, you and I are our brother’s keeper! It’s in our DNA.
This, my dear friends, can be a turning point in what we believe about ourselves and our neighbor, and in what we are capable of in the face of fear and uncertainty, if we trust in the divinity of our very souls, where God resides and where we live and move and have our being. What you believe right now will determine how you act. So, believe and act as if you and everyone around you, friend or stranger, are beloved and precious children of God.
In our new reality, we need to do away with “practicing” our faith and get to the business of “doing”.As I write these words, I fully understand that none of us has any idea how this turmoil in our country will turn out. But, I do know this – God does not cause such chaos. So get that idea out of your head. But he will use it for good!
I love this quote by Rebecca Solnit, “Disaster could be called a crash course in Buddhist principles of compassion for all beings, of nonattachment, of abandoning the illusion of one’s sense of separateness, of being fully present, and of fearlessness…in the face of uncertainty.”
My prayer is that we will take on that mantle of courage and faith now, whatever that looks like, wherever we are.
May God bless and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and give you peace.
PASSION, PURPOSE & POOPYHEADS 