Rethinking Lent

Last updated on: February 14, 2013 at 8:09 am by Karen Spears Zacharias

Rethinking Lent 2013-02-14T08:09:21+00:00 Karen Spears Zacharias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When I was growing up in the Bible Belt no one ever mentioned Lent. I didn’t know a single adult who participated in the practice. I never saw people walking around town with a thumbprint of ashes on their foreheads.

Seems to me that Baptist were sacrificing stuff all the time — we didn’t really need a season of sacrifice. We were already forbidden from drinking, playing cards, seeing anything but a Disney movie, wearing pants with a fly in the front, shopping or doing homework on Sundays.

The first real Lenten Service I ever attended was in Los Angeles in 2003. We were getting ready to depart LA for Vietnam. There was a priest going on the trip with us. A veteran who lost a leg in Vietnam. If you lose a limb in war that ought to cover all your Lenten seasons for life, wouldn’t you think? If you lose a limb in war you should never have to sacrifice anything again as proof of your devotion to God or others.

But then maybe we look at this whole Lenten season the wrong way anyway.

Maybe it isn’t about what is being sacrificed, but about what already has been given.

That’s what a pastor at a church in Pine Mountain, Georgia claimed when I was visiting his church in December. He told the story of a World War II veteran who had lost a limb. I can’t remember if it was a leg or an arm. Anyway, as the pastor told it, the soldier said he didn’t lose his limb in World War II — he gave it.

He gave it outright.

Oh. That doesn’t imply that he had no more need of it. It just means that despite his need for that limb he was willing to part with it for the benefit of others.

It was the soldier’s sacrifice to give, and he did so without a sense of being owed something in return.

Truth is that soldier doesn’t want anything in return.

In light of that, our giving up chocolate, or wine, or social media in response for such a gift seems absolutely ludicrous, doesn’t it?

I don’t think Jesus is any different than that old War War II veteran. Nothing we offer him comes even close to the sacrifice he’s already made on our behalf.

Maybe a thankful heart is the only worthy offering in response.

Previous Post

February 12, 2013

Guns-N-Churches

Next Post

February 18, 2013 Immigration Reform: No easy answers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category child abuse Military ministry pop culture prayer Sports Uncategorized Veterans Day

Select a Month July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz