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Ash Wednesday - 14th February 2024

Fasting is a serious matter

Lent is a season of parched places. A season of journeys in the desert, of stripping back, soul –searching, fasting, giving and praying. A season of turning and returning to the divine as we recognize our deep need for God. A season of travelling with Jesus from the desert to Jerusalem. A season of see-sawing between life and death and life again.

In the old testament reading for today that we have not heard tonight (Isa 58: 1-12) We hear a warning about outward shows of repentance and contrition that changes nothing. Isaiah majors on the act of fasting. Fasting is not a game giving up treats for a short time it is a serious matter. There is no point in fasting God says if you continue to do nothing to relive the parched places in other people’s lives.

Tending the hungry, offering hospitality to the homeless, clothing the naked and seeking peace and reconciliation is what the Lord desires of us. Watering the parched places and speaking life. Stop pointing the finger says God, Stop speaking evil. Rather recognize that God is leading and guiding – helping us to grow strong in faith and love for other, as we put their needs above our wants.

And so what does this actually mean for us?

In Matthew 6:1 repeats the message from Isa 58, only he puts it very clearly

“Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven.

And in Verse 2-3 he says

2 “So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 3 But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.

What advice are we give about how to do these thing? Or are we left to our own devices NO, as always we are told what to do in verse 4!

Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

Our human nature means that we innately want people to know the good things that we do, we long to be liked and loved by those around us. It is hard and take a lot of self-control to follow what we are instructed by Christ to do and to keep it between God and ourselves.

What is your Fast for Lent?

We often give up things, Chocolate, sweets, sugar, beer or wine. But I wonder if as the family of St. Andrew’s list Lent we can take on an action instead?

Some of the ideas that we can take on are:

• Spread God's love: i.e. share a smile or hello every day to a stranger
• Share a meal with others (you could join us on the Lent course on Monday’s and join in with pizza and learning)
• Stop and pray the Lord’s Prayer at 12 noon every day.
• Read a passage of the bible every day and contemplate how it makes you feel (speak to Peter or myself for a list of readings)

The way of the cross

As we receive the cross of ashes on our foreheads today be reminded that we come from dust and will return to dust, and the journey from one to the other made through parched places and dusty places. Where are the dusty and dry places in your life? Where do you need the Lord’s guidance? Where do you need the Lord’s life?

In your prayers tell Jesus about that and ask for the gifts and grace you need.

Jesus walks the journey with us, before us ahead, beside within, around and throughout. He gives his life on the cross so that all of our dust and sin might be made clean and whole – the parched places watered so that our wilderness may blossom and burst into song. And we need that so much at this time- For ourselves, for our communities, for our world and for our church.

AMEN