Seems like only yesterday we were beginning our Lenten project, but in fact five whole Sundays have sped by! So here we are at the end of Lent, and Holy Week is top on the agenda.
But before we dive into the liturgical overload of Holy Week (and let’s not forget Palm Saturday to prepare for it!)
we should recall what we’ve done during Lent and why.
Our Four Lenten Themes:
Temptation, Calling, Forgiveness, Sight
Here’s a brief definition, just to keep us in the same direction–
Temptation: We are tempted to settle for a lesser good, when we can have so much more. This is true of the temptations of daily life, where we are tempted to cheat on a diet, enjoying the momentary pleasure of dessert but missing out on the long term benefits of weight control. But even more so this is true of our spiritual lives, where we settle for the accomplishments of daily life, forgetting the bigger picture.
Calling: this is the good news that we have work to do. Meaningful work is good news because it gives us meaning . With something to do that can make a difference, we aren’t spectators in this life, but actors. This also keeps us from being a victim in life–we have something to do!
Forgiveness: Reminds us that we are not as important as we think–the world does not revolve around us, which means our judgments on others are not the last word on their lives. Forgiveness means we are more important than we give ourselves credit for. We do not have to be held captive by the opinions, restrictions or limits set by others. Forgiveness frees us to be who we are: We forgive those who hurt us, freeing ourselves from the past, and freeing them from our judgments.
Sight: As we found last week, our opinions are not the final say on reality. What might we be missing because we insist on seeing things our way? What might the Spirit inspire us to see if we move out of our own way?
These four themes present us four different insights or paths, but they share a center. They only make sense in light of the future. Why resist temptation, why think about purpose or contempt other perspectives if we’re not going anywhere. One of the ways that Christians stand out in today’s world is that we believe in the future. That future belongs to this world–we do care about what we leave for those who come after us, and it points eternity. If we are headed to the grave, then none of this matters. All choices are pretty much the same because death will have the final say. But if there is hope, if we are meant for a bigger reality, if death is not the last word on our lives, then these Lenten themes prepare us for that future. They are, each one of them, Good News.
So our last Lenten project–and this one is really important–is to sum up the season by looking for hope. The Christian story proclaims that death is not the last word. As the darkness of Holy Week descends, we can hold on to hope? That’s what we need to know. So this week–come up with examples of hope: Look for places where the small signs of life are seen, despite the surrounding destruction. Find places where self-interest has been trumped by service to a higher cause. Look for reasons to hold on to faith, even as the world beats it down.
We need these answers. We need to learn to see them, we need to learn to share them. So–go! Where do you see hope?