Week 3 – Fast from negative talk and for love of enemy.

Reflection

Some of us grew up singing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” While this is a good sentiment, it misses the communal nature of God’s salvation. The vision of salvation that Jesus espouses in the Sermon on the Mount is not that each individual lives a shiny, happy, psychologically well-adjusted existence that inspires others to become Christians. Rather, the picture Jesus depicts is of a city in which the poor are lifted up, the meek are honored, and the peacemakers are celebrated. This vision of a new economy (sharing), a new politics (servanthood as leadership), a new social reality (adoption into God’s family of all who repent), and a new spirituality (love of God and neighbor above all) blazes the light of love into the gloom.

Abraham Lincoln was once asked if he thought that God was on the side of the Confederacy or the Union. He replied “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Given our self-focused culture, it is easy to slip into the trap of asking God to be on my side, to make my life work out, to help me realize my desires. God’s desire is to create a people who bear witness to God’s in-breaking kingdom of shalom. To what extent do we align ourselves with that adventure? How are we giving ourselves to realizing God’s desires?

Action (Reflect)

Reflect on the previous week. Did you find a way to fast from entitlement and for immigrants? What barriers did you encounter?

Plan for the upcoming week. In the week ahead, we will encounter Jesus’ exhortation to love our enemies. Imagine a town that lives this ethic. What an extraordinary witness such a group would have in this conflictual season!

This week, make it your goal not to say anything negative about anyone else (fast from negativity). Then identify someone who might qualify as your enemy and fast for love of enemy. Is there a creative way that you could love this person in secret? Perhaps a daily prayer or a gift of anonymous flowers?

If you can’t identify any enemies, think of someone who is an ideological/political “other” in your life. Can you love that person by trying to understand his or her heart? Perhaps you could ask, “Can you tell me a story behind why you believe what you do?”

When you communicate with your Lenten exercise partners on Wednesday, share about your fasting from/for commitment this week, but if you’ve identified an “enemy,” keep that person anonymous.