“So whenever you give alms… And whenever you pray… And whenever you fast…”
(from Matthew 6)
“…Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing;
they can only get us to the place where something can be done.”
(Richard Foster)
The Lenten practices of prayers, fasting and almsgiving (giving to those in need), are derived from Jesus instructions in chapter six of Matthew gospel. Jesus is concluding his teaching to the disciples on what’s expected of them in the Kingdom of God. He’s embodying this good news in his ministry and his followers are expected to embody good news in their own life.
Praying, fasting and sacrificial giving prepare followers for their work and, in the context of Lent, prepare all followers to understand his passion and the mystery of the resurrection. By understanding the passion Jesus had for the least and lost, his followers are to continue his compassion for the oppressed, hungry and hurting.
I think Lenten practices can also help a congregation for the calling of its next installed Pastor.
The interim or in-between time of transition might be compared to Israel’s exodus and wandering in the Sinai for 40 years. A congregation in transition “wanders” with a temporary shepherd (Interim Pastor). The “wilderness” metaphorically is that in-between time. Through intentional practices, the congregation will be prepared to embrace a future with new leadership and (hopefully) new direction.
The Lenten practices can prepare the people through…
Prayer… deepens and strengthens the individual and corporate relationships with God who is permanent Shepherd and guide. Listening in prayer is most important.
Fasting… helps a person prioritize what matters as they reject anything that doesn’t feed body, mind and spirit. By fasting, we resist the temptation to be exclusively fed by the past.
Sacrificial giving… assists us in accepting new patterns and possibilities that emerge during the transition. Congregants can “give up” personal agendas seeking new ways of being church which can benefit the common good.
To excel at just about anything, one needs to practice. Even people of faith need to practice, not to excel for personal agin or status but to be more like Jesus who came to serve not be served.
Challenge: Choose one Lenten practice (prayer, fasting, almsgiving) and commit to working at it for one week. Let me know your experience.