Sunday of Forgiveness/Cheesefare Sunday
Romans 13:11-14;14:1-4
Matthew 6:14-21
In fact, this Gospel is a Lenten how-to.
First, our Lord tells us the importance of forgiveness. He’s told us this so many times. In the Our Father, he teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. And, in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the merciful for that shall receive mercy”. You see, forgiving others, showing mercy, that results in God showing us mercy. And it enables us to receive mercy. And we’re ALL in need of His mercy.
The second key is fasting. When you fast, don’t let others know that you’re fasting. If you go around with a long look on your face, letting people know just how much you’re suffering to perfect yourself as a Christian, letting them know how much your suffering helps you conquer your passions, are you REALLY suffering to perfect yourself? Or are you drawing attention to yourself, looking for pity? Remember, “Blessed are the meek, for THEY shall inherit the earth”. And, if you’re showing others how successful you are in conquering the passions, does that include how successful you are in conquering pride?
The third key that our Lord gives us for a good Lent is one he’s given us before. Don’t store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, but store up treasures in heaven.
In the ancient world, there was a common belief that the inward life was much more important than physical comfort. Often, wisdom was viewed as being more precious than jewels, that poverty and sickness were not all that important in the big scheme of things. The belief was that the good man can be happy whatever happens to him.
And in generation after generation many of the ablest men, and women also, acted upon the belief. They lived by free choice lives whose simplicity and privation would horrify a modern laborer, and the wise of the world about them seems to have respected rather than despised their poverty.
Our Lord is telling us to strive for this perspective. If we store up treasures on earth, our attention is taken away from the interior life. That’s why poverty is so often stressed in monastic life. The Church doesn’t want us destitute, but she DOES want us to have little dependence on our physical condition and comforts. And one of those comforts is food.
But, remember, even if we understand why it’s important to fast, we’re still likely to be under attack from the Enemy. Fasting is indeed a spiritual battle. In this world, we are in an almost constant battle with the forces of darkness.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Our struggle, though, has a dimension beyond the personal struggle.
And, when Solomon’s Temple was dedicated, God spoke to the people. “If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”
And earlier in this sermon, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” In the ancient world, salt was a preservative. As the Body of Christ, it is our duty to live in such a way that the earth is preserved. And, as Christians, those who bear the name of Christ, it is our duty to humble ourselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from our wicked ways - not just that our sins be forgiven but that our land might be healed.
In many ways, our nation is a mess. I’m not here to tell you which side of a political issue you should take. I can’t do that. But I can tell you what you can do.
Use this Lent not only to prepare your eternal retirement, storing up treasures in heaven. Use this Lent to bring God’s healing to our land.
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