Good morning…
For me, tonight quietly signifies another invisible loss. Since 2007, each Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday we have hosted our annual Women’s Lenten Communion Service. For fourteen straight years, God has prepared our hearts for the season of Lent by gathering at church with a standing-room-only crowd, listening to a life-changing, God-revealing story from the ordinary life of a woman in our community, and breaking bread together to feed our deepest hunger. Not tonight. Tonight we will not host this intimate, interactive experience of communion to usher in the Lenten season.
In the Christian church, Lent is traditionally described as lasting for forty days, in commemoration of the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry, which leads us to one of the biggest understatements in the Bible: After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry (Matthew 4:2). In Lent, many Christians commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries, in order to experientially replicate the sacrificial steps of Jesus Christ on the way to his cross. Christ-followers often add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to the rhythmic heartbeat of God.
After nearly a year of fasting from our “old normal rhythms,” during this unusual Lenten season our daily lives have already been stripped down to our bare essentials. What more can we give up this Lent? No ordinary woman could feed each facet of our shared starving need. Might Jesus himself step up to the microphone as our Lenten speaker for 2021?
The earthly ministry of Jesus was bookended by being reduced to God alone in the desolate desert and being raise by God alone as he gave his body and blood to free us from the sins separating us from our God-designed life of abundance. Like Scripture says, after fasting forty days and forty nights Jesus was hungry. This fascinating fast crescendoed with the enemy of God tempting this fully human man in his stripped down state.
“If you really are the son of God, use your own miracle power to feed yourself,” taunted the our adversary. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (v. 4)
“Throw yourself off this peak, forcing your Father to tangibly intervene to save you right now,” Satan said. Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test'” (v. 7).
Flaunting fake power, the devil deceived, “I will give you possession of everything if you just bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (v.10).
At once the accuser left him, and angels suddenly gathered around Jesus to minister to his needs (v. 11). After this clarifying experience, Jesus began ministering mightily to the famished needs of this hurting world. On the cross, Jesus laid down his earthly life to open the powerful pathway to heaven on earth and in heaven, eternally. The living Christ’s ministry is now humbly carried on through us, as we are all uniquely empowered to feed the deep needs of our hungry community.
On the morn of this year’s non-existent Women’s Lenten Communion Service, what are the take-aways from our Teacher?
- Human hunger can be very clarifying.
- Each day, our souls are fed by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
- We cannot force the hand of God, our forever Father will tangibly intervene in our painful circumstances in the perfect time, in the perfect way.
- We possess the power so say to God’s enemy “Go away!” as we wholeheartedly worship and serve the One True God.
- Once we are reduced to dependency on God alone, we suddenly experience angels gathering around us to minister to our most basic needs.
May this Lenten season offer clarifying communion with the God who feeds, saves, and serves the whole hungry world with the generous gifts breathed into us, day by day, through the palpable power of the Holy Spirit.
…Sue…
P.S. If you are interested in coming to Northside Church for our 6:00 pm Ash Wednesday service tomorrow, please Register here. Our 2021 Lenten devotional is available for free—first come, first served—available in the Narthex and at the Welcome Desk or touch here to Sign up to receive the daily email version.
