Make This Lent Unforgettable

Rev. Jack Cascione

Well, what is it going to be this Lent?  Are you going to give up chocolate,
dancing, beer, wine, your favorite dessert, going to the movies, etc?  We
have a suggestion that (like all other Lenten fasts) is not required by
Scripture.

Instead of imposing physical duress on your body by giving up food, how
about imposing duress on your mind by memorizing Psalm 110 for Lent?

Rather than training the stomach, you could train the mind, unless you want
to do both.  The mind is part of the body.  The end result of such a "fast"
would mean that you know more about the Bible.

Think of all the useless things we memorize and that cloud our minds: words
to popular songs, plots to movies and TV shows, and useless facts about
sports.

May we suggest Psalm 110 as an appropriate Psalm to memorize for Lent.
Psalm 110:1

Psalm 110:1 {A Psalm of David.} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the
midst of thine enemies.
 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of
holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek.
 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his
wrath.
 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead
bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the
head.

The benefits of such a fast could last you the rest of your life.  The
congregation might not get thinner but it would get smarter.

You never know when saying a Psalm to yourself will be a balm for your soul
and mind.  You can say Psalms to yourself when you are driving, shopping,
going to sleep, waking up in the morning, brushing your teeth, running, etc.

Saying a Psalm to yourself is a great way to clear your mind without any
pressure of wondering whether your prayer was properly worded.  The Psalms
are perfect.  Personally, I enjoy saying Psalm1, 2, 4, 6, 23, 24, 25, 30,
32, 51, 90, 98, 100, 121, and 130.  Now, my plan is to add 110 to the list.

We recommend King James as the preferred text for memory because the modern
translations are constantly being revised.

The tradition of fasting began with God's command that the children of
Israel not eat on the Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 16:29 "And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the
seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls,
and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger
that sojourneth among you:"

Numbers 29:7 "And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an
holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work
therein:"

By the time of Christ, the Jews had increased the number of fast days to two
or more a week.  Such is the human desire for earning God's favor and
salvation by good works.

The forty days in Lent remind us of the forty days that Christ fasted in the
desert before He was tempted by the devil.  Christ's work vicarious, that
is, He experienced suffering, sin, and death in our behalf.  Our fasts are
only a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and a work of prayer.

Fasting is not required in the New Testament.  However, a Christian may
follow the example of the people of Nineveh (see Jonah 3) and fast or
abstain as a way of showing sorrow or remorse for sin (contrition). When
fasting is part of contrition, the whole body is engaged in the act of
confessing sin.

The following are some notable texts on fasting from the New Testament.  In
Matthew 17:21 Christ gives instructions on casting out demons.  "Howbeit
this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

We learn from Cornelius and Paul that receiving and sending of pastors and
apostles may be accompanied with prayer and fasting.

"Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour;
and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before
me in bright clothing,"

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they
believed."

Paul also tells us that husbands and wives may briefly refrain from marital
relations for prayer and fasting.
1 Corinthians 7:5 "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent
for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come
together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

Luther has a great deal to say about the benefits of fasting, training the
body, and keeping control over our flesh.  He also warns that fasting earns
or receives nothing from God. The victory is already ours by grace alone
through faith in Christ

Luther writes: "Scripture places before us two kinds of fasting that are
good.  The first kind one accepts willingly for the purpose of checking the
flesh by the spirit.  Concerning this Saint Paul says: "in labors,
watchings, in fastings." (2Cor.6:5).  The second is the kind one must endure
and yet accept willingly.  Concerning this St. Paul says: "Even unto this
present hour we both hunger and thirst" (1 Cor. 4:11). And Christ says of
it: "when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then they shall fast."
(Matt. 9:15). (What Luther Says Vol. I page 508)

In the Small Catechism Luther writes about fasting as preparation for the
Lord's Supper.

THE BENEFICIAL USE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is
truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, "Given and shed
for you for the remission of sins."  But he that does not believe these
words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words "for you"
require all hearts to believe.

February , 2004