In all honesty I'm a little concern with this sermon. That some people will either think I'm a crazy pastor trying to pull the church in a different direction then they are, or that I was singling them out as who told me things were too catholic. But really either than phrase or a similar idea has been expressed to me either in person on via email by at least 3 congregation members, a fellow Lutheran pastor in the area, a religious chat board I'm on and some non-religious friends.
The gospel text for yesterday was Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Jesus telling his disciples how to give alms, pray and fast.
Enjoy
I have found preparing for this sermon has been difficult for me. Over the past few weeks, as I have talked about Lent to various people, both congregation members and non-members alike, I have found that many have balked at the idea of Lent because it is quote “too Catholic.” This concerns me for many reasons.
It concerns me because once we label something as “too” anything we demonize that group and avoid the practice for fear of being like them. It concerns me because while I far from agree with the Roman Catholic church on many issues, including their stance on female clergy, when we label something as “too Catholic” we then don’t want to be like them and therefore do not want to join in ecumenical dialog which has helped Lutherans, other protestants and Catholics understand our own individual theology and has helped us all better understand that at the core our faith in Christ is the same. The label has also concerned me as a lot of members of this community were raised or have previously worshipped in Catholic churches and hold dear some of these traditions and by us calling something “too Catholic” we are, whether intentionally or not, insulting their beliefs, their past and their traditions.
But, at least in this instance, the reason why the label “too Catholic” has concerned me is because Lent is such a rich time spiritually and when we write it off as “too Catholic” we are not allowing ourselves to take part in an ancient tradition which so many people have found so spiritually enlightening.
Lent is a time for penitence, for repentance, for humility, for preparation and for anticipation. We anticipate Christ’s resurrection but first we prepare for his death. We prepare for Christ’s death by realizing with humility that it is our human sinful nature that caused Christ to die on the cross. We repent our sins, which has caused that death and we in some cases demonstrate penitence, not because they are required of us in order to receive God’s forgiveness, but out of humility and in knowledge that it is our sins that caused Jesus to die on the cross.
Historically people showed penitence by giving up certain foods during the Lenten season. This included everything from a complete fast for certain days throughout Lent, or a partial fast of meat, sweets and butter throughout the entire 40 days. But the idea of fasting is older than that. In today’s gospel Jesus does not tell his disciples “If you fast” but “when you fast.” Fasting was common throughout the ancient world as a way for people to create a spiritual connection or to show their devotion to God. People fasted for days or weeks before various rituals or on certain holy days and people still fast throughout the world for the same reason, especially on Yom Kippur or Ramadan.
Christians have also taken Lent to be a time of intensive prayer or scripture reading as people have sent aside a dedicated portion of their day or week to spend time with God. Again this is not a new tradition as Jesus again said to his disciples “When you pray…”
And Lent has also been historically a time when people give additional money to charity. One common idea is to give the money you save on your grocery bill while fasting to world hunger or another charity. And again this is not a new tradition as Jesus told his disciples “whenever you give alms.”
Jesus expected his disciples to give alms, pray and fast. And we are expected to do these things today. But Jesus asks us to do them for the right reason. We are not supposed to have the trumpet sound, whether from an actual trumpet or the boasting from our own lips, whenever we give alms. We are not supposed to pray loudly on the street corner so that everyone may know what we are doing, but quietly in a locked room. We are not suppose to look disfigured when we fast so that everyone knows what we are doing, but look clean and presentable so that our penitence is only known to God. We do not need to do these things so that others notice us, but because God already notices our actions and our actions are meant for God.
God sees us, God notices us, God gives us attention. We do not need others to see us, to notice us, to give us attention. And when we do these things for God, it is not God who changes but us. We are more open to hearing God’s word, to seeing God in this world, to feeling God’s love in our lives and to sharing God’s abundance with others.
So this Lent I encourage you to do something, even if it is “too Catholic.” Give something up that gets in your way of worshiping God, maybe you can go on an electronic fast as you spend too much time watching television, checking Facebook or playing angry birds on your cell phone, to experience God’s creation. Or you can go on a fast from a kind of behavior that you do not like about yourself, maybe try to give up swearing or complaining about a situation at work and in doing so you will be better open to seeing God’s love. Or maybe you can take something on. Pray for a person before you text them, or read at least one chapter of the bible a day and you will find that you are better hearing God’s word. Or maybe you can each day write a thank you note to one person or give away one of your possessions to someone who would appreciate it, or write down one way you saw God and in doing so God’s abundances will be open to you.
Lenten disciples, spiritual disciplines are not done so that we can more readily receive God’s grace and forgiveness, because God’s forgiveness is already given to us. They are done because of our love for God and in anticipation of Christ’s death. They are done because in our struggle, God changes us. They are done so that we may get out of our comfort zones so that we may be more open and receptive to God in our lives. So this Lent I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and do something that seems “too Catholic” and take on a spiritual discipline for Lent and see how God changes you.
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