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Fast, pray, love
To live well in times of darkness, turn to the Lord, fast, pray and love (Luke 4.1-13; Psalm 91; Romans 10.8-13).
Context and reflection
- As the time of writing, it is day 6 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Freedom Square in Kharkiv has been hit by a missile; a massive military convoy is approaching Kiev; over 660,000 refugees have already fled to neighbouring countries; the violence and threats escalate with each passing hour. It is impossible to predict the situation that will be facing Ukraine, and the world, by Sunday. My heart breaks; my fear rises. How can I, how can we, respond to this crisis? How can we bear the stories of people and families already displaced or destroyed by this war?
- Those much wiser in their faith than me have already begun to point the way. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has collated an interdenominational list of resources to help guide and support prayer and reflection in response to the situation in Ukraine.
- Responding to the situation in a Radio 4 Thought for the Day last Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reminded us not to give in to the fear provoked by uncertainty but instead remember that ‘the only certainty, is that we know that God does not change. Let us find our resolution, our peace, our certainty not by screwing up our courage, but in the knowledge of the eternal arms that hold us.’
- Or, in the words of the title song of Lauren Daigle’s album, when she asks where God is, when darkness seems be winning and the world crumbling: ‘Look up, child‘. Look to the Lord. God is ‘not threatened by the war… not shaken by the storm… in control / Even in our suffering / Even when it can't be seen…’ So, look up, child!
- That is what Jesus does, when he is tested and tempted by the devil in Luke 4.1-13. Though hungry from his 40 day fast, he will not abuse God’s power to satisfy his immediate needs, even as the devil taunts him. Instead, he looks up, child of the Father, Son of God, to God’s bigger picture beyond that moment, and to His word, because ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ Our bodies need nourishment but not at the cost of our souls.
- Offered earthly power, he does not seize it, as some might now wish to grasp for the power to retaliate in the current crisis; instead he looks up to God again: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’
- Finally, he is tempted to throw himself down from the Temple tower to prove God’s promise to save; but he will ‘not put the Lord your God to the test’. We are promised ‘refuge’ (Psalm 91.2) by God. But God’s name is not to be used like a magic spell to whisk away our troubles. Paul reminds us that ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10.13) or as Psalm 91.15-16 promises, ‘When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble ... and show them my salvation.’ God will save, but it is not for us to assume when, or how, that will be accomplished. Instead, we must open our hands, our mouths and our eyes, to humble ourselves; to confess to God’s glory and our own weakness; and to pray for that salvation to be granted, to us, to Ukraine, and to the world.
Ideas for sermons or talks
- Pope Francis called the Catholic Church to a Day of Fasting for Peace on Ash Wednesday, 2 March. As we have read in the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus himself fasted for 40 days following his baptism. While fasting is still an important practice for many of the Christian faith – and others – it is sometimes neglected in Western culture. Is now the time for many more of us to begin to practise this discipline, with humility and focus, as we call out from our hearts, praying for peace? In some traditions, every Friday of Lent is a fasting day, so it is certainly not too late to begin on this path. Depending on your church’s familiarity with the discipline, you could perhaps ask for people to share their experience of fasting in prayer (an anonymous written and read-testimony may be appropriate, given fasting involves humility!) or provide some tips for beginners, such as missing only a single meal, choosing simpler food, or fasting from certain activities instead of meals, to free up time and energy for prayer, or money to support those in need.
- This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent, the season of repentance, sacrifice, discipline and prayer. A time when we commit, like Jesus, to put our own desires aside and seek instead to focus on our relationship with God. In his Radio 2 Pause for Thought on Monday 28 February, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell addressed the question of what we can all do in response to the crisis in Ukraine: ‘Be prepared to make sacrifices ourselves… Offer generous humanitarian aid… Be ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees…’ and, as Christians ‘praying’. These are all Lenten disciplines, so it seems the time is indeed now to fast, love, and pray. It may be appropriate to devote a longer time to prayer, for peace, this Sunday.
- Before this latest crisis, what did you know of Ukraine? Did you have any connections to the place or its people? Perhaps now, as we hear their voices, often speaking directly to us in our own language, we are realising they are indeed our neighbours. The little girl shot dead who appeared on so many newspaper pages had a unicorn dress just like so many little girls we may know. Kharkiv, already heavily hit, is a centre for the Ukrainian technology industry, with more than 45,000 resident IT workers. If, like me, you work in related fields, you may have come across the GitLab software project, and even if not, perhaps you have WhatsApp on your phone? They were both co-founded by Ukrainians. It is perhaps natural and human to be moved faster to compassion for those with whom we feel some connection. But the readings also remind us that ‘the same Lord is Lord of all’ (Romans 10.12). How can we remind ourselves of this when we hear of other present and future conflicts and suffering, even when the connections are less clear? They too are our neighbours.
- It is not only in Ukraine where democracy and freedom are under threat. On Tuesday 1 March, as I write this for online publication, a new law has come into force in China banning the online publication of religious content that has not been licensed and approved by the state. Do those of us in the West take our freedom to practise and share our faith freely with our brothers and sisters too lightly? Let us give thanks for the privilege and celebrate it, while remembering in our prayers those who must worship in secret or under severe constraints.
Questions for discussion
- In the Archbishop of York’s Pause for Thought, he mentions that ‘Sanctions on Russia will also affect us. We have to be ready to pay that price.’ Are we ready? How can we prepare ourselves and others to face consequences such as even higher energy prices than were already on the horizon?
- How much have we, as a nation, contributed to the current crisis by turning a blind eye to the source of money and investment in our businesses and industry? The sanctions imposed and deals abandoned over the past week or so throw a highlight on the issue of how much we have been dependent on Russia, especially for energy supplies. Can we humble ourselves, as a nation, for the long haul? And can we as Christians, take this Lent as an opportunity to repent on behalf of our nation as well as ourselves?
- In Romans 10.12 Paul writes ‘there is no distinction between Jew and Greek’. In the crisis in Ukraine, Jewish and Christian faith leaders have, according to some sources, come together to pray Psalm 31, in which David calls out to God for refuge and declares that he has been shown God’s love ‘when I was beset as a city under siege’ (Psalm 31.21). Crisis can unite us across boundaries. What ways might we be able to work with unexpected partners for peace and love?
Rebecca Froley was part of the original ROOTS online launch team and now looks after digital publishing technology for a retail industry information website. She lives and worships in the London Borough of Sutton at a local Baptist church and Anglican church, online and in person. She is passionate about words, the Word, and exploring the creative gifts God has given us, from art galleries to the silversmithing studio.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
There is really only one story in the news this week, Ukraine.
- What have you read on your social media feeds?
- Share together stories you’ve heard about people who are trapped in the major cities, or are trying to escape the violence, or who have suddenly become refugees.
One of the features of constantly hearing about such a major event taking place that is relatively close to us, is that we can’t help but wonder, what would we do? You might be looking round your bedroom wondering what you would take with you if you were forced to flee: your precious old teddy bear? Photographs of the good times? A few of your recent Christmas presents? Your phone?
You may also be wondering how you would react. We’re only just getting back into normal life after the disruption of Covid19, but what if it was all ripped away again and the places that you know and love were suddenly destroyed? And finally, you may be wondering where God is in all of this? How can a God of love tolerate such violence and evil?
All of these are hard questions to answer and while this week’s reading doesn’t deal with these questions directly, it is about Jesus in the wilderness facing trials and difficulties, away from his hometown, alone in a desolate place living with uncertainty. And, of course, at the end of his life, Jesus experienced intense suffering and persecution. Our thoughts and questions may be complicated and some unanswerable but we do know that Jesus understands suffering, Jesus knows how it feels to live with awful uncertainty and Jesus directly experienced human struggle and pain.
Prayer activity
You will need: to download a simple black/white map of Ukraine onto A4 paper for each member of the group. Provide a selection of yellow and blue colouring pens.
Using your phone, find the name of someone in Ukraine who is currently blogging/reporting/uploading what they can onto social media. If possible, look for someone who you think is probably about the same age as you.
Take a map of Ukraine and write their name across the map and decorate it with the yellow and blue pens.
When you have all finished, put the maps together on the floor and pray together for each name.
Fiona Dorman taught English in secondary school for 20 years and is currently working as Bristol Cathedral education officer and as an educational consultant.
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