Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/86

Contributor - Mike Winter

Title - "Continuing the Celebration"

Topic - Lent

About five years ago I began to understand in a small way the meaning of Lent through a friend who used to frequent with me the corner McDonald's on Friday afternoons. It was about this time of year when that ritual was stopped because Gary had decided to "give it up for Lent'. I knew Gary was a Roman Catholic but I did not understand how that related to our Friday afternoon lunch dates. He explained that he had to give up something for the next forty days and so he decided to give up lunches in order to save money and lose weight. I felt this religious"celebration" was a pretty big let-down after Christmas.

Lent is a time for Christians to remember the shame Jesus endured to save our lives. He was humbled to the point of being scorned, although God, He was despised and rejected, unfit to live in the world of men. Truly, one is humbled when he thinks of the shame our Lord endured and the complete humility He possessed in order that we might become children of God. What is the response the Jesus' humility that God is looking for in us? Is this the time of year when we "give something up" because Jesus gave up His life for us or is there something more? Hear the words of Isaiah:

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself.. Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Is. 58:5-7).

This is the response God is looking for in us. Lent is a time for"giving up" but it is not material pleasure or vices, rather the call is to give up our very lives. As Christ surrendered His life for ours, so too we are to surrender our lives for others. We are to be like Him in every way, we are to echo His words, "But my will but Thine be done". The Word of God came to us in a manger. The Response to God from us is a surrendering of our lives for the good of others. What better way to give thanks to God for the birth of His Son, for saving our lives from eternal damnation than to love our neighbour. If we want to show God we love Him, if we want to show God we appreciate Him, if we want to thank God for all that He has done for us, we will spread His love everywhere around us. If we want to remind the world and ourselves of the humility Christ suffered for us, we will die of our selfish desires today.

My friend Gary focused upon himself in making his offering to our Lord. He celebrated Lent by worshiping himself. Gary missed the meaning of Lent. Always God calls us away from ourselves. Always God challenges us to love our neighbour. Always He demands that He be first and that we be last. Only by giving ourselves away to others are we able to maintain the Christmas celebration.

Mike Winter serves as Assistant to the Pastor at First Reformed Church, Hamilton, Ontario.

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