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February 6, 2008

A Joyful Lent

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Category: Biblical Scripture: Psalm 51:12

Ash Wednesday

Psalm 51:12

"A Joyful Lent"

There are many words which come to mind when we think of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, but the word "joy" is probably not among them. What does come to mind are words like fasting, almsgiving, subdued, or restrained. If we're honest with ourselves, we might even admit to words like drab, gloomy, or depressing with all this emphasis on sin, suffering, and death. In this regard, the words of Garrison Keillor from the radio program,"A Prairie Home Companion," come to mind, who has said, "If you're Lutheran and from the Midwest, it's always Lent." Being from Iowa, I have to stop and think about that. So, where's the joy? Is there joy in Lent? As we enter into this 40-day season, the words of the psalmist are before us: "Give me the joy of your saving help again..." (Psalm 51:12). It is that little, 3-letter word "joy" that is the focus of today's message under the theme "A Joyful Lent." May the Lord's rich blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word, for Jesus' sake.

If there is one thing people are in need of in our society right now, it is joy. In the high-stress, anxious, and fractured world that is America, many are desperately seeking and searching for true and lasting joy. But where do you find it? Sadly, many people go looking for joy in all the wrong places. Many people think joy is spelled F-U-N. Some think joy is found in money and material goods, but that proves to be a pretty empty place because it's never enough. There's an insatiable desire for more. Some think joy is found in the pleasures of life - that dream vacation, that place in the sun. These may provide a temporary fix, but that fix is temporary and short-lived. Some think joy is found in people, but people have a funny way of disappointing us, even those who are closest to us. Expectations don't always match up with reality when it comes to people. Now, all of these things have their place in life - money, material goods, pleasures in life, other people - but will they provide that true and lasting joy that we're looking for? Where do we find joy? We have to go deeper to find that gift.

Let's go back to Christmas, and the angel's announcement to the shepherds: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). If we're looking for joy, not just in Lent but in life, that's where we'll find it; in that Savior who is Christ the Lord. That Savior was humbly born for us, lived and died for us, poured out his lifeblood upon the cross for us, rose in triumph over death for us, reigns on high for us, and is coming again for us. Why would anyone do all of this for us? It's like the message on the sign out on the front lawn states: "What's Lent? It's all about Love." God's great love caused him to send forth his Son to do all of this. Knowing that we are loved - not just up here in our head, but also down here in our heart - brings us joy! There really can be a joyful Lent!

The Scripture verse for today's message from Psalm 51 reminds us: "Give me the joy of your saving help again." The translation I have committed to memory puts it differently: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation." God's saving help, God's salvation, what God has freely and graciously done for us in his beloved Son, Jesus - that is the source of our joy. When we are rooted in Christ, God also freely gives other gifts besides joy: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Who among us doesn't want these things in life? This doesn't mean life will be trouble-free or without pain. God doesn't promise us that. The true test of our joy in Christ is in adversity and suffering. Christ is with us and will sustain us. That is his promise.

As we enter the season of Lent, we voluntarily undertake Lenten disciplines of going deeper in prayer and study of God's Word, eating more simply and fasting, focusing on the needs of others through almsgiving. Such things are not mandatory, but certainly can be helpful in our journey of faith. This is part of that word "Disciple" found in our congregational vision. These are spiritual tools, which handled properly, will increase our joy in Christ. However, if we undertake these disciplines with a joyless spirit, there may be more harm than good in them. They may end up having a reverse effect, and instead of drawing us closer to the Lord, these things may in fact pull us farther away from him. What does the world, our neighbors, co-workers, and friends see in Lent? Do they see the Christ of Lent? Do they see joy in us, and the joy of God's saving help at work in our lives? That joy becomes a magnet to the world. In a world so desperately seeking joy, our lives, our living out of the Christian faith, like a magnet either attracts people or repels them. So, let us be in step with the Lord here that our lives may be that magnet that the Holy Spirit uses to attract others to Christ.

Lent is a call to be renewed - think of it as a spiritual spa! We'd pay big bucks to be at a spa for 40 days, but here it's free! At the outset of this holy season that is marked by repentance - a change of heart and mind, walking in a new direction - may God so work in our hearts and minds that the joy of the Lord present in us would be the magnet drawing others to him. For each one of us, let the psalmist's prayer be our prayer: "Give me the joy of your saving help again." Make God make it so for Jesus' sake. Amen.