Mark 1:9-15 Gospel reading for Sunday 26th Feb 2012
Well we've arrived at the first Sunday in Lent ... and there's another "foreign language" word that we throw around as if the whole world is familiar with it! Lent (with a capital L).
The reading for the 1st Sunday in Lent in each of the A B and C lectionary years, focuses on the temptation of Jesus. (The 40 days of temptation as described in more detail in other gospel accounts, has been linked by the church to what we call the Lenten season.) I have already reflected on the temptation topic twice previously:
However, one thing we note from Mark's version of the reading is the brevity. In fact within the 7 verses, in a few pens strokes, Mark has Jesus baptized, tempted, calling his disciples and right into his ministry. There is an incredible urgency in Mark, an urgency to tell the story of who Jesus is and convince his readers to repent (change their mind about God).
Having re-read previous reflections and considering Mark's fast-moving almost dismissive temptation account, I've had some lingering and haunting thoughts. It seems to me, that religion has invented Lent. Is this really what God wants of us? My struggle with this revolves around gospel fundamentals - namely, we have been saved by grace, with the emphasis on the past tense word been. There is no amount of repenting, confessing, or giving up things that will change that fact, or make us any more forgiven. We have been presented with a free, undeserved and gracious gift of massive proportions! So my big question is, should we in these days, dispense with the religious man-made nature of Lent that is largely based on Old Testament practice? Is Lent as we know it, spent? If we want to focus on something at this time, why can't we re-shape Lent with a genuine New Covenant slant and give it another name or at least a different and more celebratory understanding? Shouldn't it be a more positive effort to bring to the fore-front of our conscious awareness, the reality of our forgiven-ness with an emphasis on highlighting the magnitude of what God has done for us? Lent is also widely and somewhat loosely viewed as a period of preparation for Easter. Doesn't this demand preparation for celebration, praise and thanks?
Having re-read previous reflections and considering Mark's fast-moving almost dismissive temptation account, I've had some lingering and haunting thoughts. It seems to me, that religion has invented Lent. Is this really what God wants of us? My struggle with this revolves around gospel fundamentals - namely, we have been saved by grace, with the emphasis on the past tense word been. There is no amount of repenting, confessing, or giving up things that will change that fact, or make us any more forgiven. We have been presented with a free, undeserved and gracious gift of massive proportions! So my big question is, should we in these days, dispense with the religious man-made nature of Lent that is largely based on Old Testament practice? Is Lent as we know it, spent? If we want to focus on something at this time, why can't we re-shape Lent with a genuine New Covenant slant and give it another name or at least a different and more celebratory understanding? Shouldn't it be a more positive effort to bring to the fore-front of our conscious awareness, the reality of our forgiven-ness with an emphasis on highlighting the magnitude of what God has done for us? Lent is also widely and somewhat loosely viewed as a period of preparation for Easter. Doesn't this demand preparation for celebration, praise and thanks?
So is Lent spent? Yes and No.
No because I do not wish to devalue, down-play, place off-side or offend anyone who is strongly committed to the traditional meaning and practices of Lent - go for it by all means. For those of us who grew up with the traditions and practices of Lent, for those of us who do find it helpful to refocus and especially to give our spiritual lives a make-over - fantastic.
Yes because in the context that we operate in our Lutheran Schools it is critical that we keep it simple for our clientele. We must not lose sight of the basic gospel reality that we don't have to DO anything to be OK with God - everyone already has the invitation to join in the celebration! We simply need to encourage people around us to RSVP YES. That's classic and authentic saved by grace of the New Testament as highlighted and rediscovered by Luther.
No because I do not wish to devalue, down-play, place off-side or offend anyone who is strongly committed to the traditional meaning and practices of Lent - go for it by all means. For those of us who grew up with the traditions and practices of Lent, for those of us who do find it helpful to refocus and especially to give our spiritual lives a make-over - fantastic.
Yes because in the context that we operate in our Lutheran Schools it is critical that we keep it simple for our clientele. We must not lose sight of the basic gospel reality that we don't have to DO anything to be OK with God - everyone already has the invitation to join in the celebration! We simply need to encourage people around us to RSVP YES. That's classic and authentic saved by grace of the New Testament as highlighted and rediscovered by Luther.
How will we approach Lent in our school communities this year?
Nev
(By the way our on-going journey through the book of Mark is going to be delayed until after the whole Easter season is complete, even though we are back in Mark Ch 1 for this week. It won't be until June that we seriously get into a systematic progression through Mark. Because John's Gospel does not have its own "lectionary year" we will frequently be detouring into the 4th Gospel.)
Nev
(By the way our on-going journey through the book of Mark is going to be delayed until after the whole Easter season is complete, even though we are back in Mark Ch 1 for this week. It won't be until June that we seriously get into a systematic progression through Mark. Because John's Gospel does not have its own "lectionary year" we will frequently be detouring into the 4th Gospel.)
I hear what you're saying about the necessity to live in the grace of the Gospel rather than shackled to human traditions. However, what would you say is the place of repentance in the believer's life in the light of Jesus' call to 'repent & believe' (both verbs are present imperatives which indicate continuous action) and the first of Luther's 95 Theses (that Jesus 'willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance')?
ReplyDeleteEugene
My understanding of the word REPENT as used in the original text is as a strong urging for the people to CHANGE THEIR MIND about God. Jesus was continually at the Jewish people to have a change of mind, which included not just changing their mind to believe that Jesus was true God, but changing on the inside too, changing their hearts and attitudes.
ReplyDeleteThere are still people in our society today who need to change their mind about God (repent), but for us as Christian people, we've been there and done that - we don't need to change our mind (repent) in this context of the word.
As for Luther's opening remark in the 95 theses, if read in the same light, there is no inconsistency with that statement. Yes the Christian person too (even today) is challenged to reflect that changed mind, in the sense that it is also a changed heart and attitude, through the way that we daily live our lives. So in effect, Luther is simply reinforcing Jesus' challenge to all of us to reflect through our lives, our already changed minds about who He is.