Sticking Through It

Week two of Lent has been a stresser;  so much so that this post almost didn’t happen at all. Between the minor (the Gunners losing to Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie) to the major, continued injustices and casual cruelties that I witness going unpunished, the lazy folk  getting rewarded and the fact that many seem to believe kind is a synonym for doormat and behave accordingly. I have been left wondering maybe quit the whole fasting thing and order myself a double tier cake. Prayer, fasting and contemplation seem to be a long arduous road, punctuated by hunger, seeming silence from the heavens and no definitive answers.

To the Lectionary I went seeking hope in a verse or three. As I said in my previous post, I am doing Lent the old school way and meditating on the set readings provided. The passages from Luke and Philippians could have been customised for the week I had as both focused on the deeper question of how to maintain hope, confidence most of all faith in situations that seemed terminal.

In Luke9:28-42 we read about the Transfiguration. Peter’s response, wonder, fear and the random suggestion of building dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elijah is typical of the confused believer. Far easier to babble and make suggestions that seem useful than focus on what is truly at hand.

‘A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” ‘ Luke 9:35

Critical to any believer is steadfast following of Jesus. Everything else is secondary, even if a prophet and the receiver of the 10 Commandments rocks up, nothing , but nothing tops following Jesus. Instead of letting all the irritating aspects of the week get to me, or wondering what I should be doing next to get to the next Spiritual milestone, all I had to do was keep listening to my Lord and Saviour. No one and nothing is above or beyond him.

In Philippians, Paul reminds us where our true confidence, identity and belonging should stem from:

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:19-20

Concerning myself with the four letter words that sprinkle every society and the other wrongs that happen ad-infinitum is  distracting. Even when there are gross injustices, it is not for me to judge, comment or get myself in a tizz about. As all those who choose that direction have already received their reward in the earthly realm and that is precisely where it will stay. For me to froth and fret about things not being righted is to be as in the flesh and concerned with the temporary as those short-cut crew members. Although we occupy this world, as believers this world is not our final destination or indeed the place our spirit really wants to reside. Our home is in heaven, where our Lord and Saviour reigns eternal. As we look forward to the Easter story with the resurrection and indeed to his earthly return, one is best to participate as cheerfully and positively as possible, so that he too will be well pleased with me. 

Tempting Times: The Lent Series

The year seems to be galloping at an alarming pace. I have barely blinked and Lent crept up on me, thief in the night styles. Luckily, as a Christo, I was aware when it was beginning – last week’s Mardi Gras worthy chow-down was testament to the fact, but I also felt that my Lenten routine of prayer and fasting needed a bit of an update. I was aware it had become a bit routine, and there is nothing that spells spiritual downturn, quite like routine-rut, as you rock up, do everything on rote, and wonder why the deep connection with your Lord and Saviour is somewhat lacking.

In the spirit (no pun intended!), of mixing it up, I decided to go super-old school and embark upon using a lectionary during Lent. Lectionaries are literally a stipulated bible reading guide that correlates with the traditional Christian calendar. This being Lent, the passages for the next 6 weeks or so are meant to get believers in the zone for Easter; a time when Jesus paid the ultimate price – his life – to save us all – and here’s the good news bit, rose on the Sunday, showing he was the gateway to life eternal.

Yesterday’s Lectionary reading from Luke’s gospel still lingers, probably because I type this in my lunch break, completely desperate to nibble on something, anything, but knowing that breaking fast is a good 4 hours away. In the passage (Luke 4:1-13), the Devil tries to tempt Jesus, who has gone alone in the wilderness, to fast, pray and prepare for the most pivotal part of his life – his ministry, death and ultimate resurrection. Seeing that he is starving, the Devil tried to convince Jesus to turn a stone into bread, Jesus replies: 

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” Luke 4:4

Next, he gives Jesus the option of being ruler of the world, an earthly ruler without compare, with all the wealth, glory and admiration that would go with it. Jesus response.

“It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Luke 4:8

And then finally, a celestial dare – that Jesus should throw himself of a high place, and wait for the Angels and Archangels to catch him before he falls. Jesus’ riposte:

“It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:12

The common thread that Jesus used in coping with the temptations was to refer right back to scripture, and really, we should follow suit. Don’t even bother with self-analysis, or a quick power text to loved ones who might be going through their own stuff. All one needs, when the temptations gets too much is a spot of bible reading to help focus on what is not only going on, but what is at stake. ‘It is written’ and ‘It is said’ become in this passage, a call to arms against the Devil’s attempts to distract him and confuse Jesus in his primary objective, which was drawing away from the everyday to prepare for his greater, life’s mission. 

I reflect on my own spiritual journey, punctuated with periods when one was desperate for a quick fix, such as hunger be it for food or God, to other times, when patience and rage got the better of me as I sought for my goals to be achieved and I got bogged down and disheartened by the seeming lack of progress or the expected accolades for efforts made. Especially when others, maybe even Team Red propelled, positively flourished and were admired by all around. And then I considered, the putting God to the test bit; at first I thought I had never been guilty of that – I don’t have a thing for high-risk activity  - in fact I actively avoid it. But considered differently, I realized that every procrastination, excuse however substantial and ‘what’s the point’ shrug, I had ever done, was putting the Lord to the test. It was assuming you would be around for another day, week, year, decade or five, to squeeze in all the things that you know you should be doing. Call it the God given commissions, the gifts that aren’t meant to be best kept secrets – but light on a stand generation changing ones. And I realized there really was no time to waste at all. So here’s to Lent: a period of preparation for the greater things to come.