Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
People are lining up a bakeries libakerieske’s in Sylvania, Ohio. It is Fat Tuesday and people can not get enough of their Paczki, all 425 calories and 25 grams of fat. Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, a hard-boiled egg may be on the breakfast table, all 78 calories to fill one’s hunger pains.
It is common to “give up” something during this time of the year, maybe chocolate, coffee, alcohol or shopping – out of spiritual devotion.A strange spiritual twist of the calendar this year is to note that Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. Do not be surprised to see couples tomorrow sitting across a romantic restaurant dinner with ashes across their foreheads.
Lent, all 40 days leading up to Easter, can be a time for spiritual growth. Yes giving up a few things, rather than devouring unlimited calories in narcissistic enjoyment, is a healthy change of pace. Lent is about sacrifice. Sacrifice means “to make sacred.” A self-imposed loss borne out of willing compassion is truly a holy act.
Lent points us to the example of Jesus, born in the humble village of Nazareth, who became the epitome of sacrificial love.
Meditating a moment on Jesus, one can not but help to see a man who emptied himself of his rights, privileges, and ambitions for the sake of others. The Son of God did this to show a beleaguered, spiteful world what love is and can be.
The voice which can resound in one’s soul for the next 40 day is not essentially giving up donuts or eating hard boiled eggs but something Jesus once said: “Come, follow Me.” (Matthew 4:11) Yes, sacrifice, when done out of love, means to make sacred!Yes, the goal of every Christian is to: KNOW JESUS – MAKE JESUS KNOWN.
Lent, all 40 days leading up to Easter, can be a time for spiritual growth. Yes giving up a few things, rather than devouring unlimited calories in narcissistic enjoyment, is a healthy change of pace. Lent is about sacrifice. Sacrifice means “to make sacred.” A self-imposed loss borne out of willing compassion is truly a holy act.
Lent points us to the example of Jesus, born in the humble village of Nazareth, who became the epitome of sacrificial love.
Meditating a moment on Jesus, one can not but help to see a man who emptied himself of his rights, privileges, and ambitions for the sake of others. The Son of God did this to show a beleaguered, spiteful world what love is and can be.
The voice which can resound in one’s soul for the next 40 day is not essentially giving up donuts or eating hard boiled eggs but something Jesus once said: “Come, follow Me.” (Matthew 4:11) Yes, sacrifice, when done out of love, means to make sacred!Yes, the goal of every Christian is to: KNOW JESUS – MAKE JESUS KNOWN.
Rev. Terry Rebert is Pastor of Historic Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa Lake, Mi. and weekly devotional writer of Words of Faith for Transformation Ministries.
Rev Terry Rebert, tjrdet@aol.com;
