March 27, 2022 – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN

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March 20, 2022 – Third Sunday of Lent – Luke 13:1-9
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN

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March 13, 2022 – Second Sunday of Lent – Luke 13:31-35
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN

This was our first attempt at livestreaming worship, and it actually worked pretty well. We’ll make a few improvements here and there, but for the most part, I’m pretty satisfied!

Click below if you’d like to read along!

Have you figured out what you’re giving up for Lent? I confess I don’t really give up anything for Lent. But I used to. I grew up Roman Catholic, though we didn’t really go to church. But something changed in college. I went to mass all the time. I was strict about fasting. I was sure it was some kind of huge spiritual awakening. But with a little age and wisdom, now I realize that it was also a fantastic way to get attention at a Lutheran university. We all rebel in our own way, I guess. So here’s the funny story. I sang in one of the choirs, There was one other Catholic in the choir, so we commiserated. The choir went on spring break tour during Lent, singing in Lutheran churches. And they used to feed us starving college kids. Guess what the good Lutheran moms served us for dinner on Friday night? Lasagna! But the two of us were so proud of ourselves for taking a stand and only eating salad. It’s just a little bit embarrassing…..

This is what Jesus means when he says – “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.” And he gives us a laundry list of what NOT to do. Don’t give offerings in order to show off our generosity. Don’t pray in front of others to show off our holiness. Don’t let our fasting look like we’re trying to win a round of Survivor. Basically, Jesus is digging into our motives. Are we really just trying to be seen, or earn praise, or get attention?