A Sermon for 3 Lent

By Ben Cluff

​So here we are at the 3rd Sunday in Lent, halfway through our Lenten journey. 

On Ash Wednesday, through the Book of Common Prayer we were, “invited to the observance of a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s HolyWord.” ​

As I have attempted to settle in to my attempts at a more disciplined or structured devotion time for self-reflection, and identify opportunities for positive change, it has occurred to me that 40 days is a significant length of time. 

It is usually at this point in our 40 days of Lent that this occurs to me. Trying to incorporate spiritual discipline and time for reflection in a more concentrated and intentional way, than at other times of the year, while the world, our world, continues on as usual, with the accompanying distractions, demands on our time, and requirements. And the distractions seem particularly loud this year, the excitement of what is hopefully, a waning pandemic, mixed with the grave concerns of global events. 

And as God would have it, our lectionary readings provide us encouragement, at this halfway point.

Beginning with Moses, as God captures Moses’ attention in dramatic fashion with a flaming bush, that is not consumed by the fire. Once God has Moses attention; God provides an assignment to Moses, “So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelite s, out of Egypt.” 

From Moses’ perspective that does not seem a small, easy, or insignificant assignment, as evidenced in his response toGod, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 

And God’s response, “I will be with you”, as God is with us, always. 

And we receive a pep talk of sorts from Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth. The Church in Corinth is young and evolving, even exhibiting some growing pains. There have been some disagreements, debates and factions within. In today's portion, of this first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, Paul makes comparisons and draws parallels between the Israelite s journey out of Egypt and the young church in Corinth. 

It would appear that “people are people” pretty consistently overtime. 

Remember, the Israelite s received guidance, the waters parted for them, they received manna from heaven, and water brought forth from a rock, in order to sustain them. 

They experienced God’s presence through Moses, as the church members in Corinth experienced God’s presence through Christ. 

And this is Paul’s cautionary tale: 

Be aware of the example provided through our ancestors - idolatry, immorality, complaining, grumbling.

Paul acknowledges these elements of the human condition are shared by us all. … and the “pep talk” piece of this, is whenPaul offers the reassurance that God is faithful, with the test or with the temptation, God will provide the way of escape. 

We are in between; 

• as the Israelite s were in between - in between their life of oppression in Egypt and their settlement in a land of milk & honey. 
• as the members of the church in Corinth were in between- in between their lives before Christ and this new way of being, following the time of Christ on Earth and His resurrection. 
• We are in between - in between Ash Wednesday and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. 

At this point, at this 3rd week in our observance of a holy Lent, we are reminded by Paul and Moses, that God is very present with us. 

God accompanies us, sustains us, as we encounter the reality of life and how that can, at times, feel so contrary or challenging to our spiritual pursuits. 

And then in today’s Gospel, we are encouraged, no, urged, to take stock, to take an inventory - and then, as a result of this inventory, change where we need to. 

The stage is set for us here in the tales of the Galileans killed by Pilate and those individuals that lost their lives when the tower of Siloam fell on them. 

Throughout our history as humans on Earth we have asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Were the Galileans worse sinners than other Galileans?” Were the 18killed by the falling tower worse offenders?”

Jesus clearly answers, “No” … and then He adds that sense of urgency, “but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”This is not to be interpreted as a threat of punishment, rather, an encouragement to be aware of grace and to develop a new way of seeing. 

The Gospel today, at this halfway point, reiterates our words from Ash Wednesday, - we are “invited to the observance of aHoly Lent by self examination and repentance.” 

This word repentance; - to repent has been defined as, “to feel so contrite over ones sins as to change or decide to change one’s ways or to change one’s mind to a new way of seeing things.” 

And I am quite struck by the parable of the fig tree, as it drives the point home: 

Lent is not passive - It is action oriented - the gardener will be busy preparing the fig tree for the following year - digging, fertilizing, tending, in order to maintain life. 

This parable raises questions for us, at this halfway point: 

• Do we experience Lent passively or do we have an action-based orientation? 
• Is our repentance leading us to a new way of seeing things?
• Are we consciously aware of God’s Grace, as we go about our days? 
• Are we attempting to change from old ways of being to new ways of seeing the world and new ways of participating in it?
  

Today’s readings, taken as a whole, bring home wonderful encouragement to us, at this point in our Lenten journey:

God is with us 
God is faithful 
God provides the way out of testing and temptation
God urges us to action 

I would like to leave you with a Lenten prayer by the Most Reverend Arthur Lichtenberger, who was presiding Bishop from 1958 until 1964. 

Lord may I 
Fast from judging others 
Feast on Christ dwelling in them
Fast from fear of illness 
Feast on the healing power of God
Fast from words that pollute 
Feast on speech that purifies 
Fast from discontent 
Feast on Gratitude 
Fast from anger 
Feast on patience 
Fast from pessimism 
Feast on optimism
Fast from negatives 
Feast on alternatives 
Fast from bitterness 
Feast on forgiveness 
Fast from self-concern 
Feast on Compassion 
Fast from suspicion 
Feast on Truth 
Fast from gossip 
Feast on purposeful silence 
Fast from problems that overwhelm
Feast on prayer that sustains 
Fast from worry 
Feast on faith 
~ Amen