Ash Wednesday
DID YOU SEE THE FILM "EMPIRE OF THE SUN"? I SAW IT IN SPANISH WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING A WORD, WHICH CERTAINLY HELPS TO CONCENTRATE THE MIND IN ORDER TO MAKE SENSE OF THE STORY LINE. IT’S ABOUT THE 2ND WORLD WAR IN THE FAR EAST, AFTER THE FALL OF SINGAPORE. THE HERO SHANGHAI JIM IS THE TWELVE YEAR OLD SON OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR WHO AFTER BEING SEPARATED FROM HIS PARENTS EVENTUALLY ENDS UP IN A JAPANESE P.O.W. CAMP.
THERE WERE TWO STRIKING SCENES NEAR THE END. AFTER THE JAPANESE HAD ABANDONED THE CAMP AND TAKEN THE PRISONERS WITH THEM ON A FORCED MARCH, THEY STUMBLE ON THE PLACE WHERE THE JAPANESE ARMY HAD DEPOSITED ALL THE EXPENSIVE CARS AND VALUABLE ANTIQUES WHICH THEY HAD CONFISCATED FROM THE HOUSES OF THE RICH EUROPEANS. AS YOU WATCHED YOU COULD NOT HELP BEING IMPRESSED WITH THE USELESSNESS OF ALL OF THESE VASTLY EXPENSIVE MATERIAL GOODS.
UP TO THIS POINT THE HERO HAS BEEN CARRYING A SUITCASE WITH ALL HIS POSSESSIONS. EVENTUALLY IT BECOMES TOO HEAVY AND HE ENDS UP THROWING IT INTO THE RIVER WHERE IT DRIFTS SLOWLY AWAY. IN SOME WAYS THE SUITCASE IS LIKE THE BAGGAGE THAT SOME PEOPLE CARRY THROUGH LIFE - THE BURDEN OF GUILT, FEAR, REGRET, ANXIETY, HURT AND RESENTMENT OVER PAST WRONGS - THAT THEY HOLD ON TO, THAT’S ALWAYS WITH THEM AND WHICH WEIGHS THEM DOWN. WE HAVE TO LEARN TO DO WHAT JIM DID - TO THROW AWAY OUR LUGGAGE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS-TO SET ASIDE ALL THAT HINDERS US ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THIS LIFE, WHICH IS OUR MARCH TO FREEDOM IN GOD’S KINGDOM, WHICH IS PROMISED TO ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST.
EACH LENT THE CHURCH FOLLOWS JESUS ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ENTERING MORE DEEPLY AT EASTER INTO THE JOY AND PEACE OF CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SIN. BUT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS ONLY IF FIRST WE HAVE ENTERED MORE DEEPLY INTO THE MEANING OF THE CROSS. SO EVERY LENT WE MAKE A JOURNEY THROUGH 40 DAYS OF PRAYER AND SELF DENIAL AS WE APPROACH EASTER. WE FOLLOW CHRIST INTO THE MYSTERY OF HIS PAIN, SO THAT EVENTUALLY WE MAY BE ALL THE CLOSER TO HIM IN THE MYSTERY OF HIS GLORY.
VOLUNTARY SELF-DENIAL IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH LENT. IN THIS, THE POSITIVE ASPECT, DOING, IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS THE NEGATIVE ASPECT DOING WITHOUT. AS WE REACH THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER LENT, LET’S NOT JUST LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE UP. - THE TRIVIAL THINGS SUCH AS ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES AND SWEETS - BUT RATHER DECIDE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE UP FOR LENT. FOR EACH OF US IT MEANS DOING SOMETHING SIMPLE, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO AND GO ON DOING, AND NOT DROP AFTER A WEEK OR SO WHEN WE START TO FIND THE GOING TOUGH.
WE NEEDN’T BE SHORT OF IDEAS.
1.PERHAPS AN EXTRA PRAYER EACH DAY FOR THOSE IN NEED.
2. WE COULD PLAN TO ATTEND THE MIDWEEK SERVICES FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.
3. OR WE COULD MAKE A START AT READING THE BIBLE, PERHAPS PLAN TO READ ONE OF THE GOSPELS RIGHT THROUGH BEGINNING TODAY. .
4. WE COULD READ A LENT BOOK OR MAKE USE OF A LENT BOX.
HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE IDEAS IN ONE DIRECTION AND NOW A FEW IN ANOTHER.
5. VISIT AN OLD PERSON, DO THEIR SHOPPING OR SPEND TIME WITH THEM.
6. BABYSIT FOR NOTHING FOR A YOUNG COUPLE OR A WIDOW WITH CHILDREN. MIND AN ELDERLY RELATIVE TO LET THE PERSON WHO USUALLY LOOKS AFTER THEM GET OUT FOR THE AFTERNOON ONCE A WEEK.
7. PARENTS-YOU COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN. YOUNG PEOPLE -YOU COULD HELP EACH DAY WITH ONE DEFINITE HOUSEHOLD TASK.
THE KEEPING OF LENT IS NOT FOR THE FEW, BUT FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE HERE [TONIGHT]. IT’S NOT JUST AN INVITATION TO SPEND MORE TIME IN CHURCH; THAT MAY BE WHAT SOME PEOPLE NEED, IT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU NEED. LENT IS A GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STOCK OF OURSELVES: ARE WE JUST DRIFTING ALONG WITHOUT ANY REAL AIM OR PURPOSE IN LIFE? ARE WE CONTENT WITH OURSELVES AS WE ARE? OR DO WE POSSESS THAT DIVINE DISCONTENT THAT LEADS US TO QUESTION WHAT GOD IS CALLING HIS CHURCH TO IN THIS OUR OWN DAY AND THAT URGES US ON TO GREATER THINGS FOR THE LORD.
THIS LENT LET’S MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN OUR FAITH, TO KEEP CLOSE TO JESUS AND TO FOLLOW HIM WITH COURAGE. - LEARN TO BE. BE WHAT YOU ARE. AND BE WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE. WHAT YOU ARE IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU. WHAT YOU MAKE OF YOURSELF IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD.
