Lenten Reflections: Week 4

This is the fourth reflection in our Lenten series.  I’ve been saying that living a meaningful life, not having money, pleasure, power, or fame as our highest ideals, but to have Christ as our highest ideal, our model and example, is what we are all called to.  I’ve said this is a grand adventure and I think it is, the adventure of living life the way God intended it for you. [Or at least as close to it as you can get.] At its very core this involves speaking and acting in truth, motivated by love, in order to bring order and goodness out of the chaos of sin.  

Last week I addressed some of what holds us back.  “I’m too young” or “I’m too old” are common enough reasons given for not living life fully. Every one of us, however, both young and old, has a conscience that lets us know when we are off track. Sometimes the conscience can be dulled, but it is still there. Two other reasons are the force of habit and the force of the culture. That is when we really need to open ourselves to God’s grace by putting into action the disciplines of Lent, prayer, fasting and acts of mercy. The two biggest obstacles, however, are fear and sin.  

One way our own sin blocks us from the adventure is, put bluntly, we think we are not worthy of it. Other times, even if we know what is true and good, we are afraid to speak truth or act on it, for fear of being called a hypocrite. Sin also blocks us because many times we find sin attractive. The pursuit of money, pleasure, power, or fame is connected to an awful lot of what we do, and the culture lauds these things. We are told, “Get enough and you’ll be happy.” Lent is a good time to ask how often our own ideals and ambitions form around the broad categories of money, pleasure, power, and fame. 

Fear is a great obstacle to the adventure of living a meaningful life.  We are afraid doing something different will be hard. We are afraid of what others will think.  We are afraid to make changes ourselves and afraid of telling others to change. We are afraid to miss out. “If I do not pursue money, pleasure, power, or fame how will I get them?”  We are afraid it will be disappointing and think, “Even if I try to live a meaningful life how do I know God will follow up on his side of this bargain?” After all, it is a sort of bargain.  

In Matthew Chapter 6 Jesus tells his disciples that the Father knows what they need. They do not need to ask for things and worry about getting them, but they do need to seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things, what they need, will be added.  In Luke 12:32 Jesus says, “Do not be afraid little flock, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” Seeking the kingdom and God’s righteousness is to look at yourself and to look around you. It means to be aware, to speak truth, and act on that truth, motivated by love, to bring about goodness. If we do this, then all we need will be given us.