Lent IV- Galatians 4; John 6

The Collect for Lent IV, the Epistle from Galatians 4:21-31, and the Gospel from John 6:1-13 all provide contrasts between the natural human condition and the human condition under divine grace. The Collect prays for grace and comfort despite our evil. Galatians 4 notes the difference between two covenants. This is the distinction between being children of bondage with legalistic considerations and being children of the divine promise, born anew to freedom through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from John 6 is the familiar miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000. On the literal level, the miracle shows how Jesus uses His power to care for the hunger of those who have come to hear Him teach. However, especially in John's Gospel, such physical miracles point beyond themselves and are also signs of spiritual truths. As the context in John indicates, Jesus can also feed higher and deeper human hunger with His words and with Himself.

Thus, the theme of this Sunday can be summarized as a contrast between the fallen human condition in the world and the redeeming power of God's grace. This theme is always important for people to hear and keep in mind, but it has a special relevance to those who are observing Lent. As Christians prepare to appreciate Easter, the Church historically emphasizes good disciplined behavior. Every human being needs to hear that emphasis. We need to be reminded of God's Law and our needs, especially the need to repent.

Unfortunately, we humans have a natural tendency to get too caught up in the externals. We tend to focus on commandments, specific actions, and physical needs more than we do on divine grace, spiritual perspectives, and the good news of redemption through Christ. So as we continue through Lent, let us not be overly legalistic; rather, let us view our self-discipline in light of divine grace and focus on the redemptive message of the Gospel.

Annunciation- 25 March- Luke 1:26-38

 Many contemporary Christians probably only think of the Annunciation of Christ to the blessed Virgin Mary during Advent, but March 25 has been the traditional observance since the early centuries of Christianity. This observance remains a fitting time for reflection on the Gospel from Luke 1. On this day, we think of many things: the redemptive purpose of God the Father, the splendor of the messenger Gabriel, the gracious humility and faithful obedience of the Virgin Mary, and the mystery of the Incarnation. Since this celebration occurs during Lent, we also realize that all these wondrous aspects of the story receive their meaning through the Cross, Passion, and Resurrection of the One whose Birth is announced.

The story of the Gospel is a meaningful whole. From the Annunciation to Christmas, from Christ's Baptism to His Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, the message is about God's amazing and saving grace uniquely expressed through His only-begotten Son Jesus. Every Sunday, every special season, every special day, and every ordinary day are times for us to think about salvation and faithful responses. We always need to hear the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ again and again!

Lent III- Luke 11:24-26

The Gospel for Lent III from St. Luke 11:14-28 is a rich passage, and it refers to several different themes related to spiritual struggle and following Christ.  Today let us look at St. Luke 11:24-26: "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

 In these words, our Lord issues a warning about half-hearted spiritual renewal. Any person who has a certain evil removed from his life is like a clean house. Such a person has great potential for moral and spiritual growth. There is an opportunity for a new start, an opportunity for filling one's life with all sorts of virtue and goodness. This renewal is a time for inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within and transform life. However, if a person does not use such a time of renewal in a positive way, there is also the possibility that evil may return with greater force than before. A half-hearted renewal may leave a person in a worse spiritual state than he/she was previously.

 Certainly, these insights apply in great instances of spiritual healing- such as when Christ cast out demons. These insights may be applied in our modern age when a person is trying to recover from some serious moral or spiritual problem. Yet, the same dynamic can also apply to many of the little daily struggles to be better Christians that we all have. Renouncing some evil, even a minor fault, is a good beginning. It is a kind of spiritual house cleaning. But a good beginning is not enough; it also needs positive spiritual follow-up. Our souls must be filled with good things lest the bad return in a worse way.

This teaching is especially applicable during times like Lent. Lent is a season of spiritual house cleaning; it is a time when Christians seek spiritual renewal. During Lent, we emphasize repentance from sins and discipline against bad habits. During this season, many people give up some minor human indulgences, and that can be good.

However, we should not be content to renounce a few things for Lent; we must also take positive steps. During this season, we also need to fill our spiritual houses with positive practices such as Scripture and devotional reading, prayer, and acts of kindness and service. By taking such positive steps, we decrease the likelihood of evil moving back in. So, during this Lent, may God grant us the grace to focus on the well-being of our souls. Let us move beyond basic spiritual house cleaning and seek to keep our hearts, minds, and souls filled with everything good.

 

Lent II- Matthew 15:21-28

For Lent II, see the post from 2023.

Lent I- Matthew 4

The Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent is the familiar story of Christ’s great fast and temptation from Mathew 4:1-11. After Jesus’ Baptism, He withdrew to the Judean wilderness. At the close of His days of prayer and fasting, the Tempter sought to catch him in a moment of weakness. Satan used appealing lures. The Tempter’s aims were contrary to Scripture, but he tried to confuse matters by quoting Scripture.

Of course, Jesus of Nazareth rejected the three great temptations of the devil. He knew that no goal or result, no matter how apparently desirable, could justify truly evil means. Jesus chose to live on the earth in the ways His heavenly Father wished regardless of the difficulties and trials.

In certain respects, the Temptation of Christ was unique. He was perfect in His divine and human natures, and He resisted temptation as no one else ever has. Yet, although Christ is unique, His temptations are similar to those of every other human being. So the story of His basic temptations applies to all of us. These temptations are rooted in the basic human needs for sustenance, safety, and human interaction or approval. The problem for us is that the Tempter, the Evil One, uses these natural needs to attempt to draw us away from God and His intentions for human life.

Thus, we must be vigilant and seek greater moral and spiritual strength. We must struggle to remain loyal to divine principles in all areas of life.  Above all, we need to look to the grace and assistance of Jesus Christ each day. Despite our fallen condition, we do have hope because Jesus Christ triumphed over Satan throughout His life on earth and won a victory for the faithful of all times. Although we stumble daily, He helps the faithful to repent, arise, and keep walking with Him by faith.

Observing Lent

The first day of Lent  in western Christianity is always on a Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday. The name Lent is from an Anglo-Saxon word, but the season is older than the word. This season of preparation before the Crucifixion and Resurrection has a long history among Christians. It began in the early church with two basic purposes: 1) instruction and preparation for those about to be baptized, and 2) a time for repentance and renewal for those already baptized. 

Historically, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and some others have retained the basics of the church calendar, including Lent. This season has been seen as a useful tradition to encourage repentance, voluntary devotion, and preparation for Easter. At the same time, Anglicans have stressed some Christian freedom with regard to human works and traditions. While the Prayer Book provides general rules about observing Lent, Lenten devotions must not become legalistic. Practices such as fasting, alms-giving, Bible studies, or special prayers can help our spiritual growth, but they do not earn righteousness before God. In other words, human traditions about Lent or other devotions can be useful, but in themselves, such practices do not make people virtuous.

Although Christian devotions and disciplines can be good, our attitudes and beliefs are more important. Only Jesus Christ can set us right with God. Lent, like every other observance, is meant to call us to repentance and to faith in Christ.  So any special devotions during this season should point us to the work of Jesus Christ. The real purpose of our Lenten practices is always to recall us to faith in the central truths of the Gospel.