Ran into my liturgy and worship professor from Gettysburg Seminary the other day, The Rev. Dr. Mark Oldenburg – online. Youtube, actually. Boy has he gotten gray! He shared with me some great advice about Lent…
Lent, he reminded me, has a job to do: It’s job is to draw us so close to Jesus that he as he goes to the cross, he holds onto us and takes us with him – through death into life. This means we have to let go of other things we embrace too tightly that will not lead us through death to life. It means relativizing all other claims upon us. So, Lent is a time to ask what are those competing claims on us? Some might be bad and need to be eliminated – addictions for example. Others are not bad, but just need to be put in their place – parenthood, patriotism, financial security, self worth. We don’t give these up, but we need to make sure they are only ways of living out our Baptismal identity, not giving us identity.
There are four traditional disciplines for living in the embrace of Jesus:
Meditation – Prayer: The basis of any healthy relationship is communication. Do you talk with God and do you listen?
Pamela Young, in her book, “The Good Book”, suggests creating a room in your imagination – a room that is warm and inviting, comfortable for you, a room free of distractions. The only requirement is that you put in your room two comfortable chairs – one for you and one for a guest. The other requirement of the room is that only the truth may be spoken there. This could be a wonderful prayer room. Invite Jesus into your room. Visit with him. Be honest with him. Listen. Enjoy the company.
Almsgiving – Service: We’re talking face to face, hands on service. Going to serve where you have the opportunity to “decentralize” yourself, that is, to put your focus on others and their needs. But it needs to be service that includes relationship – a chance to talk with others, get to know them and hear how God is at work in their lives and through their needs.
Study: Of course we’ll be doing a lot of this during Lent, but Dr. Oldenburg suggested the kind of study where we get intimately involved with a short, weighty text. It is a way to deal with the recordings running through our head that keep us from Jesus’ embrace. Maybe it has to do with the voices that tell us we are unworthy. Then we might want to study Psalm 8, reading it, memorizing it, marinating in it. Ask yourself, “What are the voices in my life that pull me from Jesus’ embrace?” Then, “What word does God have to counter that voice?” Study it. Meditate upon that word.
Fasting: Too often we think of Lenten fasting as giving up something that isn’t good for us. Guess what? If it isn’t good for you, you should eliminate it, not fast it! Fasting is better understood as giving up something that is good for you for awhile (like the Church gives up alleluias during Lent). Removing that object or practice will create a speed bump for prayer and the resources of perhaps money, time, etc. that can be used for service.
These four disciplines are intended to help us get the most out of Lent – to be drawn ever closer to our Lord and Savior, to come to the cross confident, full of hope and ready to die to self and rise to new life in Christ. We will do our best this Lenten season on Sundays and Wednesday and through conversation opportunities to let Lent work in you. Will you join us? Will you make a commitment for six weeks to Lent do it’s job?
Hear just exactly what Dr. Oldenburg had to say at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKcWuJVfY30
