Dear Friends,
How are you doing with “fasting” this Lenten Season? I am not talking about giving up chocolate or cheeseburgers, but the fasting God mentions in Isaiah.
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed free,
and to break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
As we journey with Christ to the cross, this is the time to follow his leading in our lives. We can be more about feeding the hungry, bringing about justice, housing the homeless, and freeing the oppressed. We realize that this is not an easy journey, but one we take together as the family of faith being led by God’s Spirit.
This special time of spiritual reflection is also a time to be doing the work of our Lord. We do the work of the Lord as we give to the special offering of One Great Hour of Sharing. Three uplifting ministries are supported with our financial gifts: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, The Self Development of People, and The Presbyterian Hunger Program. All of these ministries advance the fast that our Lord has chosen. They bring justice to people and provide for needs – sharing hope.
The giving of our financial gifts is very helpful. We also should be using this time with our Lord to determine active ways that he is calling us to fast. Look at our community – where does the Lord’s fast need to take place? How can we help? How can we be used by our Lord?
Please share your insights with one another. Together we can be about the fasting which the Lord chooses, and we will be doing God’s work in this time and place. As the prophet Micah tells us, “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”
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Peace,
Pastor Kari