Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Deu 4:1,5-9
Mat 5:17-19
But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen… rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.
During the season of Lent, we are reminded to observe the three key aspects of Lenten preparation — prayer, fasting, almsgiving. To some, the Lenten observance of fasting can be frustrating. What do I choose to give up? Can I actually see it through? What if I falter and can’t keep to it? For some, it is a choice of penance, or to sanctify oneself. For others, it could be a good opportunity to use Lent to kick some bad habit or unhealthy preoccupation. For example, the fast from social media, the fast from certain vices (cigarettes, alcohol, gaming), or some who may choose to fast from unhealthy food and drinks (“might as well, since I have been wanting to lose some weight anyway!”). Whatever our reasons or intentions, it is still a worthy effort, and I have found that no matter when one starts to observe these Lenten practices, it will still change some part of you for the better.
Indeed, late is better than never. The scriptures today tell us that God’s Laws are holy and good. We know that surely. But here, Moses is firmly telling the Israelites that God’s Laws and customs are worthy of observation because keeping them is a powerful demonstration to others of our wisdom and understanding. It is giving others a vision of holiness and honour, showing our love and obedience to a worthy God. It is such humility that inspires, moves, and softens hearts.
My child came home from primary school the day after Ash Wednesday and told me, that Lent is upon us and he was told in school that fasting from something we enjoy is an act of love for God. In his simple words, “Because God loved us so much, this is how we can show God that we love him back.” To be frank, I hadn’t even formulated my plan of what to abstain from, and I was rather put to shame when my child firmly declared that he would fast from fried foods on Wednesdays and Fridays. I was surprised that he gave such deep thought to it and promptly wrote down on a piece of paper his intentions and stuck them to the cupboard door. I am so proud of him!
It was then I realised that it isn’t so much the gravity of what I choose to fast from, but the fact that I actually did fast which mattered more. It was not a matter of choosing something I’d most likely succeed in, but that I had tried in the first place. God had shown me through my son’s innocence, that fasting is indeed an act of love. It is an act of setting apart some aspect of my needs/wants as a sacrifice. It was my effort to acknowledge that Jesus suffered and denied himself for my sake, and that surely I could do just a little sacrifice in response!
At the same time, I had another exchange with a peer about what he might choose to fast from. He shared that he frankly does not know what he could fast from as he thought he led a very healthy and balanced life — he neither consumes alcohol nor smokes, he eats healthily and exercises almost daily. He felt that his life was pretty austere already and there was nothing he could think of that warranted “giving up”. After tossing around some possibilities, he trailed off and we went our separate ways.
For those of us who are parents or elders to children, or mentors to others, may we discern how our actions and choices bear an example to our children. Let us show how our Christian faith and laws upholds us to a standard worthy of admiration and following. And even should we falter, we seek God’s mercy and forgiveness to get up and try again.
When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today. ‘But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’ (Deu 4:6-9)
If you have yet to decide on something to give up, it is not too late at all. Allow the Holy Spirit into your heart and choose something small or simple to ‘give up’. The practice of it alone will be heroic. What could you do for God and yourself in these last three weeks?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to discern what I can do better this Lent in order to spend it meaningfully. I desire to love and please you and draw closer to your Beloved Son Jesus.
Thanksgiving: We thank all those around us who have fasted for personal and collective intentions. May the Lord accept these sincere sacrifices with mercy. May those who have yet to yield their wills to Him have softened hearts, as they proceed through this Lent.
OXYGEN 
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