The Season of Lent

For the past several weeks I have been reminding people that the season of Lent is coming soon.  In fact, it begins less than a week away on Ash Wednesday, February 22.  We will officially begin this church season with an Ash Wednesday service at 7:30 in Celebration Hall.  Traditionally an Ash Wednesday service will include a time called the imposition of ashes where the sign of the cross marked in ashes will be placed on one’s forehead with the words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”  Not very flattering words, are they?  The point is to remind those who need reminding that we are all human.  And that we are all in need of God’s love and grace.

 

 

Many of you know that in some traditions church members are asked to fast during this season from Ash Wednesday to Easter.  In my experience that means different things for different people.  For some it usually means giving up something they enjoy like chocolate, or ice cream, or coffee.  For others it means trying to go without a meal on a certain day.  Some twist the tradition around and say that instead of giving something up, I’m going to take something on, like eating healthier, or exercising more, or volunteering at church. 

 

 

Scripturally, fasting is always associated with prayer.  John Wesley says that this is the true purpose of fasting; it is to help us focus our prayer time by reminding us physically that we live and move and have our being solely at the mercy and love of God.  Fasting is always supposed to be a means to a greater end, not an end unto itself.

 

 

For John Wesley, that end was the experience of happiness that comes from being beloved of God and seeking daily to serve him by living out of and through that love.  Wesley regularly fasted from food on Wednesdays and Fridays until 3 p.m. That was just his habit. 

 

 

As we enter into the Lenten season, I’m not asking you to fast for fasting’s sake. But I would like for you to think of a personal goal in your life; it could be spiritual or practical; something that you would like to improve or enhance about your life.  It should be something that you care deeply about, a desire that you will move you further toward your best self.  Then focus on that goal throughout the Lenten season and pray about it daily.  And if fasting from something or engaging in something new will help to move you closer to your goal, then do it.  And when you slip up, don’t fret, remember we are all human, God loves you, and forgives you, so forgive yourself and move on.  Blessings be with you on this journey.

 

 

In His Service and Yours,

 

Vic Casad