Holy Week

By Rev. Lee Anderson

 

During this year’s Ash Wednesday service, I preached a sermon about the Lenten journey of letting go, or giving way and making room for God in our lives. Here is a look back at some of what I shared:

“Nature tells us that new life can happen when old life gives way. A forest burns, and the ashes lend to fertile soil from which new plants grow. Leaves die and fall during autumn, allowing trees to store energy over winter and push forth new leaves in the spring. Butterflies burst forth from cocoons, formed when caterpillars go inward and allow themselves to be structurally changed. When the DNA of two people combines to create a new human being, those cells are no longer individual entities but something completely new; likewise, the parents are never the same either. We can see a theme here. New life comes from letting go of the old. We might even say that new life comes from death, or a dying away. 

This is where the image of dying to our old selves or our old ways comes in. We allow for this death so that something new within us is born. This image has been passed down through the centuries because it is a rich image. It has served me in my own Christian journey, especially this time of year. But another way of looking at this process is yielding, giving something up, or even giving way. . . .This is what Lent is really about: making room for God. We hear the word repentance a lot during Lent. Repentance does not mean recognizing sin and asking for forgiveness, repentance means turning away from what you have been doing, and turning toward God. . . .We must open ourselves and let God in. So often though, there is something in the way. . . .Jesus spoke often about the things that get in the way of God. He talked about worry and fear getting in the way. He talked about storing up material wealth or food. He challenged people to leave behind family and belongings to follow him.” 

The Lenten journey involves giving something up, but not simply because of the sacrifice involved. When we give up something of value for Lent, we are really clearing space for God to enter in. This is not easy, but we do it because along with the ushering in of God into the voids of our life comes true life. When we let go of something we know, even if we know the change is for the better, it can feel like death. After all, at least something within our world as we know it is coming to an end. In this final week of your Lenten journey, as you fully let go and receive the gift of new life, know you are not alone in the difficult feelings that arise. This particular week in the gospels was a grim one. The disciples' time with Jesus went from a joyous occasion...celebrating Passover and sharing time together...to very bad news. As the disciples struggled to come to terms with Jesus' statements that he would be leaving them, then learned of his crucifixion, we can imagine what they felt. They were scared; it felt like their world was coming to an end. They were being asked to let go of all they had come to know about the world during their time with Jesus, of all they had devoted their life to, and of their beloved Rabbi.

Reflect on the disciples' experience. Know that Jesus went to the grave before us. And remember that despite the fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, in the end the disciples received very good news. There is an Easter waiting to happen!