16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18)

Lent is a time of fasting, sacrifice, and observance. It is a time in which we honor Jesus by giving up something we rely on, each and every day. Jesus is good enough to outline his instructions for fasting, during his Sermon on the Mount, in the passage above. It seems easy, doesn't it?

Unfortunately, in my experience, common Lenten practice has come to represent a time similar to January 1: New Year's Resolution time. It is a time to jump-start healthy practices, a cut off point for indulgence. A time to start that diet you've been meaning to start for the last 2 months. A time to give up sweets, coffee, or soda in the hopes that you might lose a few pounds while receiving that coveted wink and nod from our Savior for your sacrifice; two birds, one stone.

My wife and I were guilty of this sort of thinking this Lenten season. I gave up bread and dough of all kinds (knowing that these not only represent all of my favorite foods, but the #1 contributor to my "few extra pounds" that I'm perpetually trying to lose. My wife gave up chocolate, because...it's chocolate. This would be a test of our resolve, with added benefits at the end.

So did we wash our faces and appear to the outside world as though nothing was wrong? That nothing had changed? I can honestly say that I did not. I was miserable, hungry, angry, and somber for the better part of 30 days. Rather than turning my focus away from food and onto Christ, I instead heightened my focus on food to a pinpoint, blocking out all other stimulation.

On the evening of the 30th night, with 10 days to go, my wife and I cracked. Earlier that week, a work colleague of mine had brought up that her Pastor had encouraged his congregation to, rather than give up food or television, instead give up time and money in service of those in need. He suggested that giving up coffee or chocolate would only shift our focus completely inward, toward that which we wanted, and away from those around us. It encouraged us to feel somber, angry, and all-around unhelpful. Why not use Lent as a time to help those in need, rather than jump-start a diet plan?

After bringing it up with my wife, we agreed to the following terms: For each unfinished day in Lent, we would each donate one wash cloth hygiene bag-as presented earlier that week by Tim Brill at the Wednesday Lenten service focusing on Service-to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Making sure that 20 people went home with shampoo, toothpaste, and soap seemed more beneficial to us than 10 more days of introverted bitterness.

This idea of sacrifice through service to others during Lent really clicked with us, especially with the Church's focus on service this year. It is a practice we hope to continue in the coming years.

Lord, help us to honor you and the sacrifice you made for us. Let our joy and thanksgiving energize our service to others, so that they might, through our works, know yours, too. Amen.

Contributed by Michael
Monday March 30, 2015
Liturgical Year B: Week 18
Liturgical Color: Purple
Sunday Gospel reading: bPalmSun
Palm Sunday