People So Dearly Loved By God,
In my Ash Wednesday homily I mentioned that lent is “the most wonderful time of the year” despite Andy Williams’ insistence otherwise. Our culture instructs us to do what feels good and to eschew discipline, rigidity, and pain. But anyone who has sought to rid themselves of all but that which feels good knows that not only is this impossible, it’s also incredibly selfish! The result of the endeavor is overconsumption of all kinds and underdevelopment of qualities that make us healthy! Remember Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, and Violet Beuregard from the parable of the Chocolate Factory?
So why would lent be my favorite time of year? Because the intentionally designed liturgical season allows me the space to explore both the depth of my own sin, and the far greater depths of God’s love and grace for me. True joy and thanksgiving well up in me as I see the dawn of the light of Easter Sunday growing brighter on the horizon.
This is why for centuries Christians have used lent as a time to fast. The act of disciplining our bodies and minds is beneficial in the process of identifying our idols and maladaptive coping strategies. But giving something up is only half of it. When we say “no” to something by fasting, let us also focus on that to which we can say “yes!” Can our practice of fasting from a meal mean saying “yes” to a walk outside with a friend? Can our fasting from screen time mean saying “yes” to a moment of greater awareness of the present moment? Can our fasting from sweets allow us to say “yes” to a more mindful relationship with food? No matter what you fast from, whether food, activity, or thought process, there is an opportunity to say “yes” close at hand.
I encourage you to journey toward Easter through fasting, and to see what God has in store for you to which you can say a hearty, “YES!”
See you soon,
Pastor Ryan