Sunday, February 9, 2014: Isaiah 58:1-9a
It’s not quite Lent, but we can see it from here.
The prophet Isaiah lays out what God wants of the creatures made in God’s own image. God does not want self-deprivation. God does not want self-flagellation. God does not want us to suffer for the sake of suffering. God created us in love and wants us to live life to the fullest, knowing joy and communion and fulfillment. This means neither parading our piety nor celebrating hardships in service to a misreading of God’s commands. What God wants is for us to live out the image of God in which we are made, to live in a way that reflects God’s love and justice.
The church is, of course, no stranger to hypocrisy. A pastor praised a parishioner who was known for violent outbursts, vindictive acts of cruelty and coldhearted manipulations of the truth. The pastor called him a fine churchman. Never mind the man’s poor treatment of those around him or the fact that he never darkened the door of the church—these things didn’t matter. What mattered was that the man mailed in a large contribution once a year.
It’s not quite Lent, but we can see it from here. The time is coming when black smudges will once again appear on foreheads as badges of honor that proclaim exemplary Christian discipleship—shibboleths that show a willingness to go above and beyond weekend worship and attend church on a weekday to be reminded of our mortality. What a dreary thought! No wonder many Protestants challenge the observance of Ash Wednesday as “too Catholic” or question whether holding such a service is a good use of resources. If the life of Christ is not reflected in our own lives, is our smear of ashes meaningful? Is it any different than the ancient Hebrews’ fasting in body but quarreling in spirit?
