Today is a first for the Tran sisters: we both were "working" on this first Sunday in Lent. Because M. and I are both on the rotation to preach the sermon and do Children's Time (respectively), our turn came around on the same day, so the parish got a double-dose of Trans.
M's sermon was on: the theme of “journey to the cross” and what it means for us as pilgrims on that journey—e.g., the things we see/don’t see on the way... this theme is connected to the theme of seeing (vision) and w/ the themes of identity & purpose imbedded in the transfiguration story & the temptation of Jesus.
Usually, as Lent comes around, we are often asked, or ask of ourselves, what we will "give up" during Lent, as if giving up something superficiall for several days would have meaning and would change our lives and change the world in which we live. Kids are often encouraged to give up television, or women give up chocolate, or teens give up internet usage, etc. As Easter morning comes, things go back to what they were before.
To subvert that, we then ask "what will we take up" as a way of carrying the cross to follow Jesus. And we end up wearing a cross until Easter. Or we go to Bible Study during Lent when we normally don't. Or we take up studious readings of the Bible -- daily, religiously -- and we could really mean it. Until the 40 days are over.
M. reminds us that the notion of the 40 days of Lent harken back to the Cycles of 40 that appear and re-appear in the Bible narratives -- and they all point towards some sort of journeying or pilgrimage that changes the lives of the sojourner. Lives are dramatically affected and sometimes the price is heavy. But isn't this what it means for us as peoples of faith (and I don't just mean those of the Christian faith b/c the search for the sacred is inherent in all faiths).
But, during this Lenten season, what if we consider what happens when we only "look" w/o doing anything? When does merely looking and inaction actually "kill"? When does apathy and indifference kill? M. cited the movie "The Gathering" (starring Christina Ricci) which is about a group of spectators who attended the crucifixion of Christ. They came to watch out of curiosity and not out of grief, and so they were cursed to be spectators of violence throughout human history. They watch out of a voyeuristic desire instead of taking action.
So what does that mean for us? For me? Here is where my Children's sermon came into the scene. The Lenten season is a time to remind these young folks that they can be agents of social change, that they can become leading examples of environmetal protection.
For these young folks, we can encourage them to look at ways they can be pro-active in preserving and conserving the earth -- everything that has been created for human consumption and development. From conserving water to recycling to using renewable energy sources to planting trees... they can become responsible protectors of this earth and preserve the planet for those who come after them -- the future generation.
Instead of something large like tackling world hunger, instead of something large like disease and poverty, what about something concrete that they can focus on? Instead of some vague thing like remembering that Christ died for their sins (what does that mean to a 6 year old?), isn't it more helpful to remind them of the responsibility of being agents of change? What better way than to tell them that they can follow Christ by doing more than just looking...
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