Lent

From Rob Hatch
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I thought I’d take an early look at our readings this week. There are times when I like to hear them for the first time at church, and there are others when I like to go having thought about them. Since Lent for me has been about doing more in the way of reading and praying, I decided I’d read, reflect, and share prior to Mass.

The Gospel reading is from St. Matthew 17:1-9, which relays the account on Mt. Tabor where Peter, James, and John witness the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this moment, the divine nature of Jesus is revealed to them. They are given a glimpse of what is possible. These men, friends of Jesus, had to begin to let go of older notions they held about Him and His nature. What we know, is that changing their perspective and accepting this fully had its challenges.

The other two readings are from Genesis 12:1-4a and 2 Timothy 1:8b – 10. In both, we see examples of God charging His people with more letting go.

The LORD said to Abram:
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.”

Here, in Genesis, God asks no small task of Abram. Leave your father and the land of your kinsfolk. So much of our identity is wrapped up in family and geography, especially for Abram. He is asked to let go of all that has defined him and trust God that He will shower him with untold blessings. We see that Abram does this. We don’t hear the agony of Abram here. It’s hard to imagine letting go without wrestling with what God has called us to. Some of us struggle with trying to stay away from chocolate cake for 40 days.

How about the other reading, from 2 Timothy? It says

Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design

Let me state that again.

“Not according to our works, but according to his design.” OK, well that pretty much shoots the whole let me DO something for Lent thing I’d been working on right out of the water. Here’s pretty much how I read that last bit:

“Hey Rob,”

“Yes, God?”

“You know how you spend all of that time trying to figure out what it is I want you to do?”

“Yes, God.”

“You know how you try to do and do and do in an effort to be the person you think I want you to be?”

“Yes, God.”

“Well son, I appreciate all of that. But could you just sit still for a minute? Would you consider for a moment stopping all of the doing and let me show you what I mean?”

“You mean stop with my list of things to do and listen and let you show me your design for my life?”

“Yes, Rob.”

A few years back, Newsweek featured a story of Peter Borgese (Newsweek Jan. 30, 2006). Peter had risen to a high level management position having been with his company for 30 years. He had found great success in managing teams of people and made himself and his company a great deal of money. Peter was a great manager. One day, Peter felt a call to leave his position and become a teacher in a classroom of eight year-old autistic boys. He would take all of his success in life and give something back to these boys. It’s a lovely story already, isn’t it?

Mr. Borgese, despite leaving to pursue his new passion, soon realized that he was not succeeding in his new role. He knew that this meant that the children were not succeeding. Working with Autistic children was challenging and he realized that he was unable to “manage” this classroom. He knew in his heart that so much more was possible for these children. He cared about them and their success.

Relying on his experience, he continued to ask himself, how he would manage this.

Then, he realized he wouldn’t.

In order to help them realize their possibilities, Mr. Borgese had to stop trying to “manage” the classroom. He had to confront the fact that his very identity, formed from 30 years’ experience as a manager in the corporate world, was standing in the way. He had to let go of who he was in order to truly discover what was possible for him and for the children he taught. He had to let go of who he was.

Right here in this community, we have struggled with the notion of giving up or doing something for Lent. We’ve struggled to try to understand how either one would help us be better Christ followers.

Of course, during Lent it is common to be asked the question “what are you giving up?”. My latest wondering is not about giving up or doing. I am wondering, what would happen if we asked “what are you letting go of”?

What would happen if we focus on what is possible? Even if we knew what was getting in our way, would we still be able to let go to discover all that is possible?

Frankly, I’m not sure how I’d answer that last question. But, I am sure that there’s something in the way.

photo credit: roujo

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