Ash Wednesday ~ Lent Soap

"Create in me a clean heart"

  See the "soap" lesson idea in our General Ideas for Lent forum.

It's Okay to Give Up Things for Lent!

In recent times, there's been a bit of a backlash against "giving up" things for Lent, in favor of something more positive, like "giving or doing things" for Lent. While variety is the spice of life and teaching, we can't ignore the fact that "giving up something for Lent" has its roots in the biblical tradition of fasting which Jesus himself practiced.

Jesus himself approved of fasting and practiced it! Fasting is embedded within the biblical tradition of Sabbath -- a period of doing without, not working, and not eating during the day in order to create time and reminders for godly thoughts.

"Giving" focuses us on outward actions, whereas "doing without" focuses on inward thoughts. There is a time and a season for both, but the season of Lent and the stories associated with it, have always been inward-looking, whereas "giving" has its own season typically in the fall.

Jesus provided some guidelines so that the act of fasting, giving up, does not draw attention to yourself.

Matthew 6:16-18

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

**Fasting is not a transaction. We don't fast to be rewarded. We don't fast in order to "get" something.

The Greek word for "reward" that Matthew used here to quote Jesus can mean "pay you," "restore you," "deliver you."  Perhaps the word "bless" would be better to modern ears, than "reward."

In a very literal, physical sense, we fast to remember why we are fasting -- using our hunger pangs and temptation to eat as a reminder of things that are more important than what we worry about, wear, or eat...etc." (Luke 12).

Fasting "empties" us in a literal and physical sense, with the spiritual idea that "emptying" our minds and stomachs and calendars of distractions creates time that allows us to focus on spiritual matters.

Fasting can also be a way of showing solidarity with Jesus, of honoring, remembering what he went through. When we feel the hunger pangs, we feel in some small way the pain that Jesus experienced.

And as we know from fasting practices and Jesus' time in the wilderness, fasting can also be a meditative and values-clarifying experience -- focusing our attention on what we NEED as opposed to what we think we want, learning to fight temptation.