Image by mtsofan via Flickr

The groundhog did not see his shadow, so that means an early spring.  Right?  And if March comes in like a lamb, it’ll go out like a lion.  And vice-versa.  Right?  I don’t know if I have all these legends correct, but one thing I do know is that March means Lent.

Lent is a season of forty days - not counting Sundays - which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.  The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter, the highest holy day of the Christian calendar.  That is why Sundays are not included in the forty days of Lent, for they are feast days, little Easters, when the Church celebrates Christ’s resurrection.  That is why Christians worship on Sunday for the most part.  It is the Lord’s Day, the day on which Jesus arose from the dead, the first day of the week.

Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians.  Traditionally, Christians have given up something for Lent, such as sweets, caffeine, meat, or whatever.  Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.  So if I decide to give up sweets for Lent, I might enjoy a nice dessert with Sunday lunch.

This Lent, I’m going to strive to take on a healthier life style.  Because of a recent heart scare, I realized that I must take better care of myself.  But there is also a theological reason for taking care of ourselves.  Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians: “...God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?  Never!  Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her?  For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh."  But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  Shun fornication!  Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body”.

(Verses 14-20). 

One might substitute food, the excessive use of alcohol, or any other thing that is harmful to our bodies for prostitution in this passage.  The point is the fact that my body is a member of the body of Christ, and the body of Christ is not whole if my part of that body fails.  Therefore, I will strive to eat more responsibly, even when I enjoy your great cooking at all the church meals.  I will also strive to exercise more regularly.

Why do I share this with you?  Because, confession is good for the soul.  That is what we do on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  I am also giving up my selfish food desires for Lent, and taking on a more regimented discipline of exercise to keep the body of Christ healthy.  And I do it so that you can hold me accountable.

I want to be your pastor for as long as I can so that we can all travel this exciting journey toward the Resurrection together.  I love you and I’ll see you at the little Easter place next Sunday.                             Jeff