To Fast and to Feast

March 12, 2000

Mr. Rod Clark, Lay Leader

Montgomery United Methodist Church

This Sunday, Lay Leader Rod Clark spoke about the significance of the first Sunday in Lent. He challenges us to use these forty days to make time for our spiritual lives, to back away from the often overwhelming material nature of our lives. He encourages us to focus on repentance and to practice forgiveness. He emphasizes that Lent is a time for feasting and rejoicing, not just for fasting, and he shares with us the following, from the Dominican Order's website:

LENT should be more than a time for fasting. It should also be a joyous season of feasting.

Lent is a time to fast FROM certain things and to feast ON others.

It is a season in which we should:

FAST from judging others; FEAST on the Christ within them.

FAST from emphasis on differences; FEAST on the unity of life.

FAST from apparent darkness; FEAST on the reality of lights.

FAST from thoughts of illness; FEAST on the healing power of God.

FAST from words that pollute; FEAST on phrases that purify.

FAST from discontent; FEAST on gratitude.

FAST from anger; FEAST on patience.

FAST from pessimism; FEAST on optimism.

FAST from worry; FEAST on divine-order. Trust in God.

FAST from complaining; FEAST on appreciation.

FAST from negatives; FEAST on affirmatives.

FAST from unrelenting pressures; FEAST on unceasing prayer.

FAST from hostility; FEAST on nonresistance.

FAST from bitterness; FEAST on forgiveness.

FAST from self-concern; FEAST on compassion for others.

FAST from personal anxiety; FEAST on eternal Truth.

FAST from discouragement; FEAST on hope.

FAST from facts that depress; FEAST on verities that uplift.

FAST from lethargy; FEAST on enthusiasm.

FAST from suspicion; FEAST on truth.

FAST from thoughts that weaken; FEAST on promises that inspire.

FAST from shadows of sorrow; FEAST on the sunlight of serenity.

FAST from idle gossip; FEAST on purposeful silence.

FAST from problems that overwhelm; FEAST on prayer that under girds.

(from: http://www.op.org/domcentral/Feedback/PreachingArticles/PreachingLent1999.html)

Mr. Clark quotes Galatians 5: 22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Self-control is the essence of our focus during Lent. It is a time to feast on the things of God, to fast from the temptations that pull us away from God.

Thank you, God, for the spiritual feast that you provide for us. Amen.

Have a wonderful week! God bless you.