The First Sunday in Lent – February 13, 2005

Psalm 32

             Anthony Robinson looks at the season of Lent and reminds us that less is more. He says, “In having, doing, being less we have, do and are more.” This Lent perhaps you may consider the perspective that less is more and adopt it as your perspective.

             Perhaps by having less we can have more. The gadgets that distract us with their blinking lights, computer hearts and mysterious wizardry break, need new batteries, fail us at the most inopportune times, and frequently cause more work than they save. As I was having my haircut recently I noted that the place where I get my haircut goes through at least one cordless phone each year. At one time phones were designed and built to last beyond the life expectancy of your grandchildren. Now phones are designed and built to be replaced every year.

             Perhaps having less we can have more. Do we need all of our gadgets? Is it possible that we can do without one new gadget and give a gift to feed the hungry?

             Perhaps by doing less we can do more. He was in his 70’s when he fully retired. He had worked all his life, since he was twelve years old. Throughout these many years of work he never needed to carry a calendar. He knew that Monday through Friday meant going to work at 8:00 in the morning and coming home at 5:00 in the evening. It never varied. The few things he needed to write on a calendar he simply wrote on the one they kept in the kitchen.

             When he retired, though, he had to begin to carry a calendar on his person. He had to keep track of volunteer commitments, doctor appointments, the dental checkups, the card nights, the senior citizens breakfasts, and much more. This senior knows what it means to say, “beware of the barrenness of busyness.”

             Perhaps doing less we can do more. Is it possible that we can pray more?

             Perhaps being less we are more. Verse 5 of Psalm 32 says, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Can we join the Psalmist in letting go of our iniquity, our sin, our guilt? Can we be less by confessing our transgressions and let go of the burdens that weigh us down so heavily.

             It means being humble; it means being less. Yet, when we humbly confess, God forgives us. Remember the merciful words of the Psalmist: “…and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Perhaps we can be more because we have confessed and left our burden in God’s forgiving hands? Less, because our burden is lifted by forgiveness, we become more because we are able to love God and love others with renewed strength and compassion.

             Perhaps being less we are more; especially in loving God for the forgiveness we are so graciously granted.

             Less is more. That is the heart of Lent. In this season we hope that there is less of us and more of God. Now that seems to be a paradox. We add on repentance, fasting, prayer, works of love and other ‘disciplines’ of Lent that draw us toward God, and we know that we remain estranged from God.

             What we fail to remember is the place of the cross in all of this. Yes, the disciplines of Lent are so important. They help us respond to God. First, though, is what God does in the cross of Jesus. There, God is absorbing all your sin and dying that we may live. In the cross God dies that you may be forgiven all your trespasses.

             So, the disciplines of Lent, repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love are for our response to God’s unconditional love. The disciplines of Lent are for our strengthening. To repent, fast, pray and do works of love all strengthen our faith. It is good. But, the disciplines do not save us. God saves us from ourselves in the cross. In the cross there is less of us and more of God. In the shadow of the cross less is more.

             The Psalmist says it so well: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” At the foot of the cross there is nothing better to do today than to confess and know the very gracious forgiveness of God.

             St. Paul speaks so eloquently to the Romans and to us today in the second lesson. He reminds you that by the one man, Jesus, our disobedience is turned into obedience, our trespasses are forgiven and we become righteous. In the one man, Jesus of Nazareth, you are transformed and made new. Less of our disobedience means more of God’s forgiving love. How blessed we are that less is more.

             So as you journey through the week think about having less, so that you may share more with others. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank or the ELCA World Hunger Fund will deeply appreciate your gift; the gift you send rather than buying that new gadget that blinks, breaks and needs new batteries.

             So as you journey through the week consider your busyness and step back from what is distracting and unnecessary. How about a day without television? How about a day without e-mail? How about a day without a calendar? Can you, the transformed children of God, let go of TV, e-mail or a crowded calendar? It is a challenge.

             So as you journey through the week give thought to what the Psalmist says: confess daily all your transgressions and seek diligently in that repentance the presence of God and the gracious forgiveness of the cross. Would you consider this every day?

             As Lent begins perhaps your perspective can be that, “In having, doing, being less we have, do, and are more.” Perhaps we who have been remade in the cross can daily repent knowing that less is more. Amen.

• Pastor Robert F. Holley