Lenten Practices, Almsgiving

What are alms? Alms are a rare species of endangered leopards in the amazon (just kidding). Alms are food or money or assistance given to those in need. Almsgiving has always been part of the faith.  A concern to give to those in need. This practice encompasses both ideas of charity “let me give you a token of kindness or let me help you with a specific need in this immediate moment” and  ideas of justice: “not only should I help you in this immediate moment, but I should ask why you need help, and seek to address those root causes” and ideas between.

You can still find churches that have boxes labeled “For the Poor.” Some of you are familiar with the practice of mite boxes. Mite being an old translation for coins in the Bible. Some of your congregations do this now. A good practice. These are handed out at the start of Lent and individuals and families are encouraged to place them on their dining room tables. Change is collected throughout the season of Lent, for a specific cause, often associated with those in need (e.g. Heifer International, a Local Rescue Mission, spot removal surgery for Almcats , etc.).

Almsgiving can also be done directly to a person in need. This is part of the traditional practice. This can involve the giving of good, meeting a specific need, or financial assistance. Whether in person, through a mite box, or special project, even the small act of giving away our change can be a step toward developing greater awareness of need and greater generosity of spirit. Wrestling with how much we should give to the poor, as part of, or beyond a tithe, or a percentage of one’s income, forces us to look at our lives and deal with some tough questions.

How much do I really need? There are a lot of people out there whose basic needs are not being met. What is reasonable for me to keep and live on considering the profound suffering in the world? To often we ignore this entirely or make token gestures. While some are called to give away much of what they earn and have, the practice of almsgiving doesn’t require all of us to move this far and this fast. What this practice does do is invite us to think about Jesus’ Great commandment to “Love our neighbor” (Matthew 22:39) and take action to help those in need.

Lenten Practices, Fasting

Wednesdays and Fridays are the traditional days of fasting in the Christian faith. Fridays have received attention, both in Lent, and year around, with the well-known and widely practiced discipline of Roman Catholic and other Christians refraining from meat. Eastern Orthodox Christians are known for more stringent fasting during the season of Lent, sometimes encompassing a total fast from meats, various dairy products, and all water (except water imported from Greece or Russia). Yes, that was a joke (apologies to Orthodox readers). 

In Christian circles, East and West, fasting as a spiritual practice has probably waned in overall observance (less people are doing it), but I would suggest there is a resurgence of interest in and the practice of this ancient spiritual discipline (more people doing it intentionally, and not just because they “have” to). Fasting is often touted as having various health benefits. While this may be true, depending on how you fast, our concern here is fasting as spiritual practice. Isn’t fasting just about beating up ourselves by not eating rattlesnake steaks on Fridays? 

No. To be clear, the idea of Christian fasting has often meant partial fasting (full fasts being a matter of personal practice or limited to days like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday), such as abstaining from certain foods (e.g. meat) and eating two smaller meals and one regular meal on a given day. There is also the practice of fasting before receiving Holy Communion, especially on Sundays.  Ok. So, sometimes it’s a partial fast or abstaining from chocolate or coffee (Yes, really!) or whatever for the season of Lent. Why? Self-denial is about realizing what is important in life. 

Fasting reminds us how much we depend upon food, those who prepare it, those who grow it. Fasting reminds us of those who regularly go hungry and to take action. Fasting can be an opportunity to depend upon God more deeply. Fasting is a way of training our wills to choose the better instead of the merely convenient. Fasting can be painful, because it reveals our weaknesses. But such knowledge is essential if we want to grow in character. Also, in the Bible, fasting is often seen as a powerful complement to prayer. (For the record, there is no Friday of the year where I eat steaks made from rattlesnakes).

Lenten Practices, Ashes

“You are dust and to dust you shall return” shall be said over millions of Christians on Ash Wednesday as their foreheads are marked with ash by the sign of the cross. Many of these millions will receive peculiar looks by those who are not familiar with the practice. Even for those who recognize it as something Christians do to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, many may still wonder why? Why be marked with ashes? What’s the deal? In the Old Testament, the wearing of ashes was a sign of personal regret at sin, an expression of a desire to change and of humility. 

Ashes for Christians echo these Old Testament meanings, Lent is a season of intense spiritual training. A season when Christians are to take stock of their lives, express regret for their sins and failures and with God’s help seek to grow more fully into the kind of persons God would have them be. This is something Christians should do year-round but in Lent, it is intensified. Ashes are also a reminder of our mortality. You will die. I will die. There is no escaping this fact. Coming to terms with the brevity of this earthly life, sharpens the focus for how we should live.

By receiving ashes, you are recognizing one of the fundamental of human realities which must be grasped to live life well. Many of our societies are keen to ignore the reality of death, to pretend it doesn’t exist. This recognition of our morality on Ash Wednesday is not an exercise of doom and gloom, but of inspiration toward living life well with God, with others, and with all of creation. The Christian faith proclaims a life that is everlasting, but before we can cling to that hope, we must first come to terms with death. Receiving ashes is one way of doing this.

Lenten Practices, intro

This Lent, I’ll be writing a six-part series entitled, “Lenten Practices.” Lent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I look forward to Lent ever year. As the days grow closer, a sense of expectation fills my spirit. It’s not as strange as it sounds (Granted, I often sound strange, especially when practicing for my annual Lenten yodeling concert). I’m a fan and observer of Lent because of the season’s powerful potential to be used by God to transform your life and mine. How can it do that? 

Because Lent is a time where many Christians engage in some sort of intentional spiritual practice. For many there is still the idea that “I should do something for Lent” whether that’s “giving something up” or “taking something on” (I recommend both). The word Lent comes from the Old English word, lencten, which means, spring. Lent is meant to be a spring time for your soul. A time of growth and new life. It has been referred to as a period of spring cleaning. It might also be thought of as a period of spring training.

Many sports teams get back into the “swing” of things during the spring. If you’ve been off the field for a few months, the initial weeks of spring training can be tough. This is often true of our observance of Lent, too. But by God’s grace, we keep at it despite our slips, falls, and fouls. It’s a shame many congregations and Christians don’t take advantage of the potential of Lent (or host Lenten yodeling concerts). To benefit from this traditional season of reflection, repentance, and renewal you need to do a little planning. Plan now for how you will observe Lent. (Yodel here).  

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Sabbath

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of Sabbath. This has its origins in the Old Testament “Where God rested on the seventh day” (Genesis 2:2-3, NRSV). This became one of the defining marks of faith in the one God, the keeping of this seventh day of rest, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath…you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:8-10). That’s found in that top ten list, remember? 

Sunday became the Sabbath (versus Saturday) for Christians. Some of you will recall or recall relatives reminiscing about a time when, in North American anyway, things shut down on Sunday as a way of honoring the importance of Sabbath and communal worship. For the most part, that time is over; which means, it is even more important that we create times for Sabbath in our homes and our lives. If you don’t, the world will gladly eat up all your time with its noise, with its screens, and with its endless offerings and demands (Netflix anyone…). 

Sabbath is about rest and renewal. Sabbath is about creating space to be restored in one’s relationship with God, with others, and with all of creation. It is a time for joy. It’s a time for respite. It is a time for re-creating the life of God in you. The old meaning behind our word, recreation. It is a time for making expensive gifts to your pastor (Just making sure you were reading carefully). Sitting in front of a screen and being numbly entertained may be a welcome way of winding down, but does it restore us? Does it bring you together with those you love? 

It might, but it might also be a convenient way to ignore the real issues in our homes, hearts, and relationships (including with God). Yes, to a movie night, but what about a weekly unplugged night? No screens. Just people. Just a book. Just a walk. You could have a daily hour of reading where all in the home read. Resurrecting Sunday night family dinners is also a way of practicing Sabbath (as our date nights for couples). Maybe Sundays (after worship) you dedicate to family and friends. How are you doing with this or how might you begin? 

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Prayer

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of prayer. A trait that should mark a “Christian home” is a home that is marked by regular prayer. Prayer is one of the chief means by which we pursue our relationship with God. Prayer is one of the chief means, perhaps the most fruitful and faithful, of inviting God into the nooks and crannies of our hurts and joys, pleasures and annoyances (Praying in traffic comes to mine). Prayer isn’t meant to be a pause from life, but part of life. 

Faithful discipleship involves the cultivation of faithful habits. We are creatures accustomed to and stubbornly inclined toward habituation. Creating routines of prayer in the home can help open ourselves to the often hidden, sometimes surprising, sparks of the Holy Spirit. One way of doing this is by praying in regular spots on a regular basis. Praying grace at meals or at least one meal, is a way of doing this. It’s also an easy way to start. Another is when you get up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night (or can’t sleep at night). 

After all, many people when trying to get up in the morning or prior to sleeping at night invoke the Lord’s name. (Often vigorously!). Expand it into a regular prayer. The great teachers of the spiritual life across the Christian Tradition recommend a daily time of prayer. For most people, this is probably best done at home. Maybe you have a prayer chair or family altar where you can have your “quiet time” with the Lord. It need not be long, being consistent for two minutes a day is better than occasionally praying for twenty minutes but then not again for a week. 

If you are praying with others, like a significant other, roommates, or the terrors of cuteness that we call children, you will need to adapt your prayer to what works for all. This may mean shorter and simpler types of prayer. That’s fine. Some families have a custom of Bible reading and prayer (“family devotions”) once a week or briefly at night, including some households that pray some form of the Daily Office or Compline. A home marked by prayer is a home opening itself to the love of God. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Reminder

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of reminder. “Out of sight, out of mind” is well-worn aphorism, because of its veracity. In our screen infested age, we might also say, “Screen in sight, no sight of mind.” This is due to the screen’s phenomenal power to capture our mind’s attention, obliterating the world around us. The practice of reminder is all about reminding ourselves of the reality of God and the reality of our commitment to the God of love revealed in Jesus Christ. 

This is more than simply a reminder, such as a post it-note on the refrigerator door or stapled to the dog’s tail (I apologize, the Cat Lovers of Canada requested I include that line). This is a symbolic reminder. We are symbol hungry and symbol making creatures. Nobody needs to tell us this. Nobody needs to tell people to decorate their homes with items that reflect who they are and what they value. Family pictures, movie posters, and so on. Yet, I ask, are there any symbols of the faith displayed in your home? (Red Sox pennants don’t count, close, but no!)

There is a long tradition of Eastern Christians displaying icons in their home, sometimes called an icon wall. In the West, there is the long and wonderful custom of a family altar. A small altar or devotional space that includes saints’ pictures, prayers, and is often changed to reflect the season of the Church year. In more Protestant circles, a prominently displayed family Bible and sometimes also, Bible verses. Among Anglican Christians, a visible Book of Common Prayer. Among Lutherans, a displayed casserole (Yes, that was joke. I prefer Lutefisk, anyway.)

It is not necessary to have a full chapel in your home (though some people have these, really), but it is wise to have some holy reminders, some symbols of the faith, to remind you of your Christian faith. In fact, the idea is for them to be less churchy and more-homey or less gathered church and more domestic church. Let it reflect your personality and any others in your household. Be as creative as you like. There are lots of resources out there. Start small. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?