Leviticus: One day of the week at least

Lev. 23:3

       I am not one that usually throws references to Leviticus out there simply because it is so often taken so literally. Taken out of context, it is often used rather selectively to bash the gay community. But this reference from my Lenten program seems rather appropriate and I thought I would approach the subject.

       Lent seems to be a time when at the very least we try to stay focused on growing in our relationship with our Creator, appreciating what God has done for us, especially in taking on the mantle of humanity. We also are trying to be fully human ( as Jesus was ) , cooperative with whom God created us to be as a beloved creation. We try to take on a share of that sacrifice offered up for each one of us. We often try to share in that by 'giving something up'. 

       In our Lenten pre-meeting, our own Pastor suggested that among other attributes, we make our sacrifice 'doable'. I still recall last year and my participation in 'reading the Bible in 90 days. That was an abysmal failure. I could not keep up. I suggest you don't do that for Lent unless you are Trappist monk with unlimited time on your hands to fulfill the task. Similarly a young lad agreeing to be totally chaste for Lent might be a bridge too far when you consider the raging hormones and the array of ways in which we can be un-chaste, no matter how good our intentions. 

       One of the fundamental ways we can be faithful to our journey is by honoring Sunday as a day of rest and a day focused on our relationship to God.  No matter how much we can do good and stay focused 6 days of the week, we can focus on that 7th in a special way. With all good intentions to get up early every day and pray, read scripture, meditate or some other unwieldy offer, perhaps we can simply try to honor God's created world, our brother and sisters, all of creation and ourselves by making one day special each week.  That isn't to say spending the entire day on our knees in prayer or in church. It need not be some overly formalized task of worship. If you think of Mass as the main course, the rest of the day can be filled with so many varied ways to fill the menu with thanks, rest, honoring and loving God, each other and ourselves. Yes, ourselves!

         One day of the week at least, devoted to God and self. Nice. Happy Lent!