How much more can we give up?
February 19, 2021
As Christians begin the Lenten season on our journey to Easter, we find ourselves at a familiar point in time. One in which we are used to “giving up” something for 40 days and 40 nights as a way of returning to and depending on God. However, this year I can’t help but feel like I’m being ripped off. Like I’m at a pawn shop that is offering me much less that my items are worth. Because as this week approached, I asked a question that we’ve already been asking ourselves for a year. How much more can I give up?
We’ve given up a lot in order to bring this pandemic to a halt, or at the very least, slow it down. If you know me, you know that not going to the movies 15-20 times a year is frustrating and sad. It’s a “first-world problem,” I know. Time is one of the things we’ve all given up to a certain degree. Time with loved ones and friends has been reduced to deciding if it’s “worth it” to attend an event in-person or not. It’s been a year full of giving up one thing after another. So, you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t feel like giving anything up for Lent this year.
But that’s the point, isn’t it? I mean, if we only gave as much as we’re comfortable giving, then what is the point of Lent? This year we get the unique opportunity to maybe relate to Jesus a little bit more than in years past. Maybe this year we will feel the pain of giving something up when we’ve already given up much more than we planned. Maybe then we will begin to feel what Jesus felt. Maybe the word “sacrifice” will carry more weight. Maybe after 40 days of pushing our giving to the absolute limits of our giving, we can remember a risen Christ, reflect on his love for people, and come close to understanding what it means to give up that which we desire most. And perhaps for the first time ever, we will be able to comprehend the meaning, the power, and the significance of Resurrection. I am glad to join you on this journey to celebration.
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