2 Cor. 5:20 - 6:2 Ash Wednesday 2/09
(20) We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. {21} God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. )6:1) As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. {2} For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:3-10) We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. {4} Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; {5} in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; {6} in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; {7} in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; {8} through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; {9} known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; {10} sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Here we are again at the beginning of another Lenten season - a very important season in the life of the Christian Church, even if it is one that has fallen out of favour with most people. But, perhaps that has something to do with what Lent is perceived to be about: For many, it is too negative; with too much of a focus on repentance and a change of heart and life. All too often we prefer our life to just go on normally with us doing what we want with our own life. Yet in the end we still hope to receive all the benefits of being a Christian. By doing this we loose out on the benefits of Lent and face some real difficulties in our Christian life.
Now if you didn't already know, Lent is an Anglo-Saxon word, meaning 'spring’; so it is associated with that time of the year when new growth appears. It has then the suggestion of new life and growth; but off course, before new life and growth occurs, something has to happen. There needs to be a winter before we can have spring: or as 40 days suggests from history of God's people – Israel’s 40 years in desert – Jesus’ 40 days in wilderness - rain for 40 days and 40 nights – all indicate a time of cleansing and preparation for a new beginning in a promised land of milk and honey.
However, there is another more Australia image that is very appropriate for Lent; and it is one that we know very well. Now Lent begins with Ash Wednesday; and for many Ash Wednesday is about bushfires. Yet the bushfire has some real symbolism for the season of Lent. We know that bushfires have been a part of Australia’s history from the early days: regularly bushfires have swept through the forests and landscapes of our nation. Where I grew up, this was seen as very much a part of nature. The mallee scrub would grow and then after a period of time start to die off: it would get diseased and become overgrown with other vegetation and then struggle for its life. Then a thunderstorm with lightning would start a fire and burn through that scrubland; cleaning out the undergrowth, dead wood and disease. For a short while the landscape would look scarred, barren and seemingly dead, but very quickly new growth would begin to appear; the mallee would shoot out fresh, green and healthy. Then before very long the landscape would look a real picture once again. In many ways, the fire helped cleanse and rejuvenate the native vegetation.
Now in various parts of Australia, people have realized this and have had managed fires to do this work of cleansing and rejuvenating: This controlled burning was often done at cooler and more favourable times. As a result, they have avoided disaster and loss of life and property that results from a raging bushfire on a nasty hot summer’s day. Where this work had taken place, great benefit has occurred; yet when it has not happened through the desire not to harm nature, or because it looks unsightly, or for whatever reason; invariable at some later point a bushfire strikes with disastrous results as we have seen recently. By trying to avoid a little pain, disaster strikes further on, effecting even nature itself; where even the trees themselves have not survived.
Now there is a real lesson here for our spiritual lives: it is very much a Lenten picture that can be applied to our lives as Christians. We all at different times become tired; overcome by our failures; hassled, swamped and overgrown by sin, people and situations around us. Our lives become a long way from what we know they should be and what we know deep down God would like them to be. There needs to be a cleansing and burning up of the ‘dead wood’, so that a new beginning can take place. If this cleansing doesn't happen we eventually wither and die.
Now God, throughout our life, has given us opportunity for those cleansing fires to take place in our lives. Here Lent is one such occasion. At this time as we are led to reflect on that which is sinful and bad in our lives; and to see that confession, absolution and a daily going back to our baptism, there in a gentle way we are given the opportunity to get rid of those bad aspects of our lives, which hinder our growth and living. And we all have them in our lives. Here in this reading we are told that now is the time to do this changing of life - this turning away from that which is bad and evil and that which threatens to slowly choke us to death. Now again is the time for a new, fresh and healthy life to begin.
But like the bushfire; if it is not controlled and used wisely, it happens in the heat of life and then instead of a controlled cleansing; a ‘raging bushfire with searing heat’ brings on a disaster: sickness, tragedy and death may occur; all in an attempt by God to rejuvenate us – to get as back to what we should be. Of course, there is more damage when this happens; and not all survive as we so often see. But when we allow God to use Lent as a time to help us see our weakness, sin and need for this cleansing; then through repentance there can be a turning away from that which is harmful. Then we can have the reassuring message that through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is a new and healthy life in store for us.
Here let us remember that God wants us all to go on and live joyfully and happily in our relationship with him and with one another. He has a lot to say as to how we can do this: it is all very simple, if only we would listen and take seriously, what he has to say to us. But when we let other things: sport, work, education, a good time and all those kinds of things, to swamp us and take over our lives, so that we no longer go to church regularly and to live the way he wants then he needs do some cleansing. Sure, it hurts - but it is necessary if we are to continue to grow as we should.
If this cleansing however, is allowed to take place, it takes us back to God and he removes the ‘rubbish,’ then great things are in front of us – beauty and joy awaits: a new, fresh and healthy life begins once more enabling us again to have that peace, joy and contentment that we so desperately would like to have. Then also, other people can begin to see the true glory of God at work in our sinful world.
Yes, like the Australian landscape after a fire; it takes time – but as time goes on, the landscape again looks a picture. In the same way; the more that sin is removed from our lives,; and is seen to be removed by God, then more people begin to see the beauty of God and the importance of Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.
Again, that is where the season of Lent is so important for this to all take place in our lives. As we are drawn to see our sinfulness; and to see that without God we do not have the life and living that is so needed; then our focus is drawn forward to Easter; to Jesus’ death on the cross. There we see the real cleaner of sin at work for our good; for there Jesus gets burnt, for you and me: There forgiveness is extended to each one of us. Jesus’ resurrection is then our guarantee that this is for real: that there in our connection with Jesus’ death and resurrection through our baptism, there is our death and new life as Christians. There we truly see the glory of our great God, giving us that which we really need.
So may God at this time light his cleansing fire within us, so that this new life may spring forth in the landscape of our lives. Then as he works in this way through us may others again see the beauty of what it is to be Christian and so may be drawn to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour as well. So may God bless this Lenten season for you all. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(20) We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. {21} God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. )6:1) As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. {2} For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:3-10) We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. {4} Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; {5} in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; {6} in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; {7} in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; {8} through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; {9} known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; {10} sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Here we are again at the beginning of another Lenten season - a very important season in the life of the Christian Church, even if it is one that has fallen out of favour with most people. But, perhaps that has something to do with what Lent is perceived to be about: For many, it is too negative; with too much of a focus on repentance and a change of heart and life. All too often we prefer our life to just go on normally with us doing what we want with our own life. Yet in the end we still hope to receive all the benefits of being a Christian. By doing this we loose out on the benefits of Lent and face some real difficulties in our Christian life.
Now if you didn't already know, Lent is an Anglo-Saxon word, meaning 'spring’; so it is associated with that time of the year when new growth appears. It has then the suggestion of new life and growth; but off course, before new life and growth occurs, something has to happen. There needs to be a winter before we can have spring: or as 40 days suggests from history of God's people – Israel’s 40 years in desert – Jesus’ 40 days in wilderness - rain for 40 days and 40 nights – all indicate a time of cleansing and preparation for a new beginning in a promised land of milk and honey.
However, there is another more Australia image that is very appropriate for Lent; and it is one that we know very well. Now Lent begins with Ash Wednesday; and for many Ash Wednesday is about bushfires. Yet the bushfire has some real symbolism for the season of Lent. We know that bushfires have been a part of Australia’s history from the early days: regularly bushfires have swept through the forests and landscapes of our nation. Where I grew up, this was seen as very much a part of nature. The mallee scrub would grow and then after a period of time start to die off: it would get diseased and become overgrown with other vegetation and then struggle for its life. Then a thunderstorm with lightning would start a fire and burn through that scrubland; cleaning out the undergrowth, dead wood and disease. For a short while the landscape would look scarred, barren and seemingly dead, but very quickly new growth would begin to appear; the mallee would shoot out fresh, green and healthy. Then before very long the landscape would look a real picture once again. In many ways, the fire helped cleanse and rejuvenate the native vegetation.
Now in various parts of Australia, people have realized this and have had managed fires to do this work of cleansing and rejuvenating: This controlled burning was often done at cooler and more favourable times. As a result, they have avoided disaster and loss of life and property that results from a raging bushfire on a nasty hot summer’s day. Where this work had taken place, great benefit has occurred; yet when it has not happened through the desire not to harm nature, or because it looks unsightly, or for whatever reason; invariable at some later point a bushfire strikes with disastrous results as we have seen recently. By trying to avoid a little pain, disaster strikes further on, effecting even nature itself; where even the trees themselves have not survived.
Now there is a real lesson here for our spiritual lives: it is very much a Lenten picture that can be applied to our lives as Christians. We all at different times become tired; overcome by our failures; hassled, swamped and overgrown by sin, people and situations around us. Our lives become a long way from what we know they should be and what we know deep down God would like them to be. There needs to be a cleansing and burning up of the ‘dead wood’, so that a new beginning can take place. If this cleansing doesn't happen we eventually wither and die.
Now God, throughout our life, has given us opportunity for those cleansing fires to take place in our lives. Here Lent is one such occasion. At this time as we are led to reflect on that which is sinful and bad in our lives; and to see that confession, absolution and a daily going back to our baptism, there in a gentle way we are given the opportunity to get rid of those bad aspects of our lives, which hinder our growth and living. And we all have them in our lives. Here in this reading we are told that now is the time to do this changing of life - this turning away from that which is bad and evil and that which threatens to slowly choke us to death. Now again is the time for a new, fresh and healthy life to begin.
But like the bushfire; if it is not controlled and used wisely, it happens in the heat of life and then instead of a controlled cleansing; a ‘raging bushfire with searing heat’ brings on a disaster: sickness, tragedy and death may occur; all in an attempt by God to rejuvenate us – to get as back to what we should be. Of course, there is more damage when this happens; and not all survive as we so often see. But when we allow God to use Lent as a time to help us see our weakness, sin and need for this cleansing; then through repentance there can be a turning away from that which is harmful. Then we can have the reassuring message that through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is a new and healthy life in store for us.
Here let us remember that God wants us all to go on and live joyfully and happily in our relationship with him and with one another. He has a lot to say as to how we can do this: it is all very simple, if only we would listen and take seriously, what he has to say to us. But when we let other things: sport, work, education, a good time and all those kinds of things, to swamp us and take over our lives, so that we no longer go to church regularly and to live the way he wants then he needs do some cleansing. Sure, it hurts - but it is necessary if we are to continue to grow as we should.
If this cleansing however, is allowed to take place, it takes us back to God and he removes the ‘rubbish,’ then great things are in front of us – beauty and joy awaits: a new, fresh and healthy life begins once more enabling us again to have that peace, joy and contentment that we so desperately would like to have. Then also, other people can begin to see the true glory of God at work in our sinful world.
Yes, like the Australian landscape after a fire; it takes time – but as time goes on, the landscape again looks a picture. In the same way; the more that sin is removed from our lives,; and is seen to be removed by God, then more people begin to see the beauty of God and the importance of Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.
Again, that is where the season of Lent is so important for this to all take place in our lives. As we are drawn to see our sinfulness; and to see that without God we do not have the life and living that is so needed; then our focus is drawn forward to Easter; to Jesus’ death on the cross. There we see the real cleaner of sin at work for our good; for there Jesus gets burnt, for you and me: There forgiveness is extended to each one of us. Jesus’ resurrection is then our guarantee that this is for real: that there in our connection with Jesus’ death and resurrection through our baptism, there is our death and new life as Christians. There we truly see the glory of our great God, giving us that which we really need.
So may God at this time light his cleansing fire within us, so that this new life may spring forth in the landscape of our lives. Then as he works in this way through us may others again see the beauty of what it is to be Christian and so may be drawn to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour as well. So may God bless this Lenten season for you all. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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