Taking Something Up

As difficult as it is to believe, we have just begun the journey through lent, representing the 40 days and nights that Jesus spend in the wilderness. During that time, he is tempted, and tested, and emerges ready to begin his ministry. His is a ministry that calls for teaching and healing, expanding his love for all and raising difficult questions for those who follow him to think about and act on. For us, lent is also a time for some of those things. Many choose t his time to give something up. The idea of sacrifice is deep rooted in the story of the Christian church, but I’ve never really been able to fully understand the real benefit for personal sacrifice without the accompanying action of mission. If I sacrifice eating out during lent, for example, ought I not use the money I’ve saved for some altruistic purpose as well?

What if, during this lent, we decided to take something up, rather than giving something up. The prophet Isaiah presents excellent questions in the 58th chapter, read by many on Ash Wednesday. He asks if our actions meet what we profess. Do we seek to loosen the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free? They are hard questions.

All of this makes me wonder about the prophetic voices in our time. Some of them may be political voices, and other times the quiet God’s speaks through the humble voice of a child.  I listened to US Vice President, Kamala Harris offer some words of truth and courage to Annual Munich Security Conference.

“From the starting days of this unprovoked war, we have witnessed Russian forces engage in horrendous atrocities and war crimes…We have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: These are crimes against humanity.”

I find it courageous for a political leader who is also a minority woman, to be this voice of courage and truth, but it is also moving to listen to a child to lead an environmental campaign. The voice of the prophet disturbs and unsettles, but those who follow in the name of Jesus the Christ, are called to pay attention, perhaps even be that voice.

What if, this lent, rather than giving something up, we take up attentiveness? What if we live with the questions raised by the prophet Isaiah, and allow those questions to move us deeper into a life of faith? Perhaps the sacrifice of allowing prophets to speak to us, will drive us to take specific action. One small action done by each person, when multiplied by the many, can make a difference, in our individual lives, in our communities and churches, and in our world. The ripple effect can lead us to the new life of Easter, which is exactly the point.

Go on your Lenten journey friends, and expect your sacrifice, your attentiveness and your actions to lead to justice and new life. That would be living a faith for today!

Rev Donna Tourneur ministers among the people of New Glasgow through Trinity United Church.