A Lenten Meditation

by Ken Luebbering, Lay Ministry Coordinator

Lent has long been regarded as a time of repentance and sacrifice.  One lesson drawn from the movie Chocolat in last year’s Lenten study was that Lent need not be observed by “giving up” something we like, whether that be chocolate or something else.  It could be more meaningful to give of what we have: hospitality, friendship, love, forgiveness.  While we are called to sacrifice, let’s not be too narrow in our understanding of what sacrifice could include.  It requires going beyond what is comfortable, what we can do easily, for if it is easy, it is no sacrifice.  In this Epiphany season’s lectionary, I Corinthians prepares us for just such a Lenten discipline. 

   Paul uses the metaphor of the body of Christ, of which we are all members, as individuals and communally as a church.  Paul’s message is that we belong to the body of Christ as individuals, as Grace Church, as the Episcopal Church, as the Anglican Communion.  We belong - but we are not it; we are not the whole, but are members.  He shows us that belonging means that we all have the responsibility to use our gifts in the service of God and each other. 

   When we all use our gifts fully, when all parts of the body are fully engaged in their respective tasks, then the body can accomplish its purpose.  If one finger ceases to function, the body is diminished.  If one recipient of a gift doesn’t use that gift, the power of the church is lessened.  

   As a church, we can accomplish much that we can not do as individuals.  We’ve seen several examples of this in recent years: our soon-to-be-completed capital campaign, the Prayer Shawl Ministry’s five years of service, the Lohman Prayer Garden and the new playground at the Salvation Army Shelter of Hope.  Our partnership with other downtown churches made the winter clothing drive for the Salvation Army a great success.  Finally, our collective efforts as lay members of Grace have freed Shariya+ from some other responsibilities to expand pastoral care.  Those among us who have received that pastoral care know how important that is.

   The vestry recognized our need to become full participants in the body of Christ and invited us to join in expanding our partnership with the Salvation Army and in developing a ministry with our families with young children.  These efforts will require willing workers, as well as able leaders.  Some think, “I might be able to help out, but don’t ask me to be a leader.  Lord, I’m happy just being a little toe; don’t ask me to do more.”  If you feel that way, consider these thoughts from Nelson Mandela, a man who could easily have said, “Not me, Lord; don’t ask me to do more.” Mandela wrote:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people don’t feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not in some of us; it’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

   Near the conclusion of Chocolat, the young priest echoes Paul’s epistle.  “Here’s what I think,” he says.  “I think we can’t go round measuring our goodness by what we don’t do, by what we deny ourselves, what we resist and who we exclude.  I think we’ve got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create, and who we include.”  If we are not afraid of God’s gifts to us, if we embrace them in joy and gratitude, if we use them as part of the body of Christ, what may we not accomplish in heaven and on earth?  Take some time during Lent to recognize and embrace your gifts.  Then offer them to the glory of God.