“PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE”
Joel 2: 1 – 2, 12 – 17; Psalm 103; II Corinthians 5: 20b – 6: 10; Matthew 6: 1 – 6, 16 – 21
A sermon by The Rev. Gene Tucker, given at Trinity Church, Mt. Vernon, IL on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008.
Joel 2: 1 – 2, 12 – 17; Psalm 103; II Corinthians 5: 20b – 6: 10; Matthew 6: 1 – 6, 16 – 21
A sermon by The Rev. Gene Tucker, given at Trinity Church, Mt. Vernon, IL on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008.
Some years ago, my younger daughter called me on my cell phone to say that her car had broken down about on her way to a day we had planned to be together working at the tourist railroad I was involved in back east.
After checking with her via cell phone again, it turned out she had had to call a tow truck to get the car towed to a garage, so our planned time together never materialized.
Once the garage had had time to look at the car, they told her that it turned out that the oil was so old that it had lost its ability to lubricate the engine, and so the engine was ruined. No wonder it wouldn’t run!
When I heard this report, I simply had to ask this child of mine, “Didn’t you know that you have to change the oil in your car every once in awhile?” She said, “Well, I added a quart whenever it got low,” to which I responded, “Now how did you, my daughter, live around me all these years, and not learn that you have to change the oil in your car? If you don’t, you wind up with five dirty quarts of oil every time you add a quart.”
Well, I think she’s learned her lesson, and has never had problems of that sort since.
The point of my sharing this story with you is to say that everything in life needs maintenance. The car that doesn’t need care and upkeep (or maybe major repairs or even an overhaul) hasn’t been invented yet, and maybe never will be.
Our physical lives are no different: we know what happens when we neglect to get exercise, or when our eating habits get out of balance in some way.
Our spiritual lives are no different: we need regular care and maintenance to keep our relationship with God in good form, allowing us to hear and sense His presence in our lives, attuning ourselves to His will for our lives.
That’s what Lent is all about: preventive maintenance.
And so, the Church, in her infinite wisdom, invites all of us to the observance of a Holy Lent. Traditionally, the call to such an observance has centered around giving something up, something that might have gotten out of balance in our lives, something that needs rebalancing, something that will allow us to see God more and other things less. More recently, the call to this holy season is marked with invitations to take something additional on in our lives for these 40 holy days.
And so, here is a short list of suggestions to get us thinking about ways we might undertake to do some preventive maintenance….Maybe other ideas will come to mind as we consider what God might want us to do in this time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter.
GIVING SOMETHING UP (the traditional approach):
Bad habits: Eating/lack of rest/watching too much TV/watching movies that are not spiritually edifying, etc.
Fasting: A very traditional undertaking, commended in Holy Scripture and by the Church. Can be a partial (certain foods) or total (liquids only) fast, often one day/week.
TAKING SOMETHING ON (a more modern approach):
Change our spiritual disciplines: Incorporate regular Bible reading into our day (use the Daily Office lectionary, BCP 1979, pp. 951ff as a guide)/pray the Daily Office (Morning or Evening Prayer in the BCP) every day/use a devotional such as Forward Day by Day or Prisoner to Prisoner/attend Sunday morning Bible Study and Sunday School at 9:30 AM more regularly.
Reach out to others in need: Visit some of our Trinity members who cannot be in church on a regular basis/volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry/tutor a local child for school.
Attend our Lenten Series: Thursday evenings, 6:00 – 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall, February 21st & 28th, March 6th & 13th.
Resolve to be more regular in church attendance.
Take better care of ourselves: Physically (better/more rest, better eating, more –or- regular exercise), mentally (improving what we “eat” in our viewing/reading habits), and spiritually (prayer/devotional life, Bible study, spiritual routines)
Confess besetting sins: The Church offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation (BCP 1979, pp. 447 – 452) in cases where serious sin weighs down the mind, sickens the heart, and besieges the body. Contact Fr. Tucker to discuss this option, and, if desired, to aurally confess any sins that endanger our critical relationship with God.
Perhaps God will lead us in considering these –or- other ways to draw closer to Him as we make our way toward Holy Week and Easter.
May God’s surest guidance be ours in abundance during these 40 days.
AMEN.
Reach out to others in need: Visit some of our Trinity members who cannot be in church on a regular basis/volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry/tutor a local child for school.
Attend our Lenten Series: Thursday evenings, 6:00 – 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall, February 21st & 28th, March 6th & 13th.
Resolve to be more regular in church attendance.
Take better care of ourselves: Physically (better/more rest, better eating, more –or- regular exercise), mentally (improving what we “eat” in our viewing/reading habits), and spiritually (prayer/devotional life, Bible study, spiritual routines)
Confess besetting sins: The Church offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation (BCP 1979, pp. 447 – 452) in cases where serious sin weighs down the mind, sickens the heart, and besieges the body. Contact Fr. Tucker to discuss this option, and, if desired, to aurally confess any sins that endanger our critical relationship with God.
Perhaps God will lead us in considering these –or- other ways to draw closer to Him as we make our way toward Holy Week and Easter.
May God’s surest guidance be ours in abundance during these 40 days.
AMEN.
