I always struggle to identify something to give up for Lent that will draw me closer to God, so this year the fast I choose on Ash Wednesday is something different.
The Reassurance of Ash Wednesday
It’s my favorite day in the church calendar–Ash Wednesday. It may seem odd that such a solemn, penitent day is my favorite, but I find reassurance in the readings and prayers that remind me that God’s love and grace are as inevitable as my shortcomings and mortality.
While the Ash Wednesday readings remind us of our sinful nature and call us to repentance, they also include promises of God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. The reassurance of Ash Wednesday is that God loves our perfeclty imperfect selves.
The opening prayer from the Ash Wednesday service in the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer puts it this way:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have created and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
The readings also include Psalm 103, which emphasize God’s grace:
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and full of great kindness.He will not always accuse us,
nor will he keep his anger forever.He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.
Even the ashes have this double meaning:
Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life.
The Fast I Choose For Lent
People who observe Lent may be asked what they are giving up, but I’ve always struggled to identify something I can go without that would draw me closer to God. A few weeks ago our reading from Isaiah 58:6-7 gave me a different idea:
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 them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
It reminded me of the parable in Matthew 25:35-40:
Then the King will say …. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Then the righteous will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
So during this Lenten season, I am going to look for opportunities to work against injustice, share food with the hungry, support those who need shelter, provide clothes to the needy, and be kind to strangers, instead of looking away.
Do you observe Lent?
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I like that you find so much comfort and meaning in your traditions. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading. 🙂
I really like this concept of doing something for others instead of relinquishing an indulgence during Lent. Thanks for sharing!
Just wondering – have you set up a particular plan for the season?
No set plan, because part of the idea is to be open to opportunities, but I have some things in mind. I’ve already bought a grocery bag full of canned tuna to donate to my church’s tuna drive and reached out to a “protect the vote” organization to ask about volunteering on/around election day to make sure people aren’t turned away inappropriately. Maybe I’ll do a recap after Easter.
Sounds good! Would love a recap – I think your idea is so inspiring!
I love the concept of looking for opportunities to help during the Lenten season. I always give up something for Lent and this year I’m giving up chips. I’m a really bad late night snacker 🙁
That’s such a great idea, and so needed in this day and age.
Like Catrina, eager to see your “results”