“Is not the fast I choose a day to humble oneself? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house…then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” Isaiah 58:5-8

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.” Luke 4:16-24

Lent. We have come to the time of fasting, repentance, discipline, and other acts of devotion. Or not! It is your choice. Isaiah presents some types of devotion – an old challenge – ones we can take as  suggestions. Or not! It is our choice. Jesus thought what Isaiah had to say was important. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus will read Isaiah in the local synagogue – it marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. A beginning where he almost is tossed off a cliff by the people of his hometown. The ministry of Jesus is a serious thing.

Here is my question for you as we begin the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday – will you choose to take Lent seriously this year? Will you choose a fast? What kind? Will you choose to share your money, bread, time? Will your outward “fasting” symbolize an internal conversion that will lead you to action?

Will you allow Lent to go by one more year without making a commitment to do something?

Pastor Dave