Get the app2017 Belmont University Lenten Devotional GuideSample
At my deepest core, I am a lover of experiences—both simple and complex. I love good food and drink and all sorts of well-crafted objects. I love art and museums, and big cities with their sidewalks and endless shops. Well planned or impromptu parties both delight me, as does riding on airplanes and taking road trips with my family.
As a result, I don’t generally like Lent (whereas I can’t get enough of the Christmas or Easter seasons). Where some folks see Lent about discipline and fasting and refocusing their sights on Jesus and the reign of God, I have a hard time seeing Lent as anything but giving up all the fun experiences—eating out, cooking elaborate meals, etc.—that help to shape my life and give it meaning.
Today’s Gospel text, then, is helpful for me. It is a reminder that God is also, in fact, a lover of experiences. Jesus’ defense of his own anointing in Bethany might be a startling text for those of us who have spent the last few weeks forgoing coffee shops or restaurants or chocolate or meat in order to think about God’s justice or their own relationship with Jesus. Even if we know that Judas was a betrayer and a thief, we also hear ourselves in his complaint: aren’t we all supposed to be giving up such luxuries and experiences in exchange for good deeds? Shouldn’t we be focusing on more “heavenly” things than perfume and anointing
and burial and bodies?
Apparently not. It’s worth noting that this is (in all probability) the same Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet while her sister Martha ran about her work in Luke’s Gospel. In that story, we might also hear ourselves in Martha’s complaint: shouldn’t we all be working harder and being more disciplined instead of just sitting around? Again, Jesus’ words might come to us as startling.
Maybe Lent is less about self-denial and the rejection of worldly things and more a reminder that the things and experiences of our lives have Godly significance—that is, that Jesus’ death and resurrection is about the redemption not just of our souls but our bodies, and not just our eternity but also our days. To that end, Lent itself becomes a kind of “meta-experience,” in which we realize that all of our experiences are places in which we might meet Jesus.
MICAH WEEDMAN
Associate University Minister and Director of Outreach
Office of University Ministries
As a result, I don’t generally like Lent (whereas I can’t get enough of the Christmas or Easter seasons). Where some folks see Lent about discipline and fasting and refocusing their sights on Jesus and the reign of God, I have a hard time seeing Lent as anything but giving up all the fun experiences—eating out, cooking elaborate meals, etc.—that help to shape my life and give it meaning.
Today’s Gospel text, then, is helpful for me. It is a reminder that God is also, in fact, a lover of experiences. Jesus’ defense of his own anointing in Bethany might be a startling text for those of us who have spent the last few weeks forgoing coffee shops or restaurants or chocolate or meat in order to think about God’s justice or their own relationship with Jesus. Even if we know that Judas was a betrayer and a thief, we also hear ourselves in his complaint: aren’t we all supposed to be giving up such luxuries and experiences in exchange for good deeds? Shouldn’t we be focusing on more “heavenly” things than perfume and anointing
and burial and bodies?
Apparently not. It’s worth noting that this is (in all probability) the same Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet while her sister Martha ran about her work in Luke’s Gospel. In that story, we might also hear ourselves in Martha’s complaint: shouldn’t we all be working harder and being more disciplined instead of just sitting around? Again, Jesus’ words might come to us as startling.
Maybe Lent is less about self-denial and the rejection of worldly things and more a reminder that the things and experiences of our lives have Godly significance—that is, that Jesus’ death and resurrection is about the redemption not just of our souls but our bodies, and not just our eternity but also our days. To that end, Lent itself becomes a kind of “meta-experience,” in which we realize that all of our experiences are places in which we might meet Jesus.
MICAH WEEDMAN
Associate University Minister and Director of Outreach
Office of University Ministries
About this Plan
Through an intentional partnership between the Office of University Ministries and the College of Theology & Christian Ministry, this Lenten devotional guide has been created for our community. Our prayer is that the words found here will nourish and challenge you as you journey with Jesus to the cross during this Lenten season.
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We would like to thank the students and staff of Belmont University for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.BELMONT.edu
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