The Pastor's Study

 Easter is coming!  But, it doesn’t come easily. Easter is the pivotal high holy day of our Christian tradition, a time when we celebrate the resurrection truth that death is not the end, and that Christ came to give us Life Abundant.  But, this joyful celebration is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40 day period of self-examination and spiritual discipline.  The purpose of Lent is to deepen our awareness of God, to grow in our faith, and to express God’s claim on our lives through concrete acts of justice and reconciliation.

The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each of these spiritual disciplines offers us the opportunity to grow in our faith, deepen our spiritual practice, and express the biblical mandate to “love justice, do mercy, and walk humbly with God.”  [Micah 6:8]

Prayer: Anything we want to do well takes practice, so I encourage you to practice your faith during Lent.  Begin a discipline of starting the day with devotional reading; take time for silent meditation; set a personal goal for yourself and write it in a prayer journal.  If you are able, spend time outdoors; go for a quiet prayer walk. Pray for yourself and your loved ones.  Pray for the poor and the oppressed.  Pray for the world and those in positions of leadership.  Pray for our country, our nation, our city and your neighborhood.  Pray for our church, that we might all grow in our faith and good works.

Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. It doesn’t have to be radical or extended, but you should feel it!  Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It can deepen our prayer life, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. And, it’s not just a personal thing!

 
Fasting has social and political implications.  The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. "This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own." [Isaiah 58:6-7]

Fasting reminds us of those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.

Almsgiving: The third traditional pillar, giving to the poor, is rooted in our concern for those in need and is an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Benevolent giving and the promotion of justice are integral elements of what it means to practice growing in our faith, and I have been so impressed and grateful for the generous spirit of our Morningside Church family as we have contributed in so many ways to those who are in need

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Lent is a wonderful season.  I look forward to sharing it with you, in worship, in fellowship, and in deed.  

May Christ be your shalom, 
                                    Michael