Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Alleluia! Say it while you can! I know February is not the actual start of Lent, but we are getting close. Before we know it, Ash Wednesday will be upon us and we will put our Alleluias away for the forty days of Lent.
Do you put anything else away for Lent? I have been thinking a lot recently on what fasting looks like for us. The past few years I have fasted all day on Wednesday during Lent and broken my fast at the Wednesday night meal at church. This year I would like to fast again, but with a better understanding to what the whole point is. The season of Lent is supposed point us to the cross. We spend the time focusing on our own sinful condition and our need for a savior. Fasting is a reminder of our need for a savior and our need for God’s hand to be continually working in our lives to sustain us. Every good and perfect gift comes from his hand. He is the one who sustains and provides for you. He is the one who puts air in your lungs, clothes on your back and food on your table. Fasting or giving something up for Lent or not saying alleluia for the forty days all remind us of our need and reliance on God our sustainer and our ultimate need for God our redeemer.
Lent is coming. Ash Wednesday is coming. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are coming. From dust are and to dust we shall return.
But Easter is coming. Easter has already come. Christ is crucified and Christ is risen! For you Christ died and for you Christ has risen. You are forgiven. And for all of that we say, “Alleluia! Praise the Lord!” Amen.
Vicar Vought