Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Mardi Gras); one last day of indulgence before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. I'm pretty sure pancakes will be on the cafeteria menu tomorrow.
Tonight, if anyone comes, I will be discussing Lent. Hopefully I will be able to tie in a conclusion to our series on spiritual gifts. Many Protestant studies on Lent seem to focus on poverty and service. Tomorrow, many practicing Catholics will seek absolution of sins via the sacrament of penance (contrition, confession and satisfactions). Penance could be manifest through prayer, fasting, charitable work or other restitutions.
In our discussion on spiritual gifts, I proposed that some spiritual gifts are also spiritual disciplines (e.g. discernment, evangelism, faith, giving, intercessory prayer, knowledge, wisdom and service). In discussion, it was felt that spiritual gifts are part of a larger picture. In essence, while beneficial to be aware of our spiritual gifts and ways in which we could use them to build up the body of believers, they should also not be our sole focus. What should be our sole focus is our relationship with God.
OK, but what is the purpose of Lent?
:: personal reflection and penitence
:: sacrificing our own will to the purpose of God
:: to commemorate the forty day fast of Christ in the wilderness which immediately followed His baptism or Moses' 40 days on Mt. Sinai or Noah's 40 days of rain or the disciples' 40 days with post-resurrection Jesus
:: fasting and repentance
:: regeneration
:: to do God's will more fully
What I hope to say tonight is that regardless of the fast we engage in or the spiritual discipline we choose to dwell upon, our intent should be to center our thoughts on God. As we seek God, as we know God more fully, as we draw closer to God -- God, through the Holy Spirit, may choose to endow us with spiritual gifts, to enable us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, incorporate us into His plan. Those "products" are not the point. The point is that we sought God.
Mere months ago, we celebrated Emmanuel -- God with us. How soon we forget. How soon we have an opportunity to remember.