Matthew 6:1-6, 16-20 How to make the most of Lent

I wonder how you feel about Lent. Personally I really value Lent, because it gives me an opportunity to look again at my relationship with God. It is the equivalent of a spiritual MOT.

However, I often feel I struggle to make the most of Lent, and so this evening I want to spend a few minutes looking at how we can make the most of the next five weeks.
In our reading from Matthew’s Gospel Jesus gives instructions about the three main acts of religious devotion which are: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Jesus warns his hearers against the ostentatious devotion sometime found in the religion of his day, and which can still be found today. Jesus says that what ever you do, do it quietly, without fuss, because you are doing it for the praise and glory of God, and not to earn the acclaim of others.
Very often when we think about Lent, we think about it in the context of giving something up, usually something we do a lot of and that we find pleasure in. For instance we may give up sweets, alcohol, or tea and coffee. Of course when we think about giving up things for Lent, it need not be material things. We could for example give up unhelpful attitudes, or ways of behaving. There are several reasons why have this tradition of giving up things: First of all it is a
· a discipline for learning self-control, to free our minds from the chase after material things,
· as a reminder of Christ's sufferings and what our true pleasures are as followers of Christ,
· as an act of sorrow over our sin.

There is sometimes a danger that in Lent we try to out do one another in our piety, bettering one another. So you’re giving up chocolate this year? That’s nothing, I’m giving up food altogether.

Jesus warned his disciples against this sort of attitude. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Lent can also be an opportunity for us to take up new things as a spiritual discipline. So for example:
- you may wish to make time in the middle of the day to read some verses from the Bible and pray, even if it is only for 10 minutes.
-Alternatively you may think of ways in which you can show acts of kindness to people you meet, and thereby give them a taste of God’s love.
- Or think of something ordinary that you do every day, and think about God while doing it, in a way that ties into what you're doing. Or think of a place you come to regularly, and each time think where Christ might be in this place, what Christ might do there, or what you might be led to do for Christ.

There are many ways in which we can use this season of Lent, to examine ourselves and prepare ourselves for Easter. But whatever we choose to do, we need the attitude that this is something that we are doing for the praise and glory of God, and not to gain the praise of others.

We should heed the words of Paul who wrote, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.