Lent – a great time for legalist. – rules and regulations – do no more, no less…
Penance throughout Lent- but Sunday and solemnities do not count, and that starts at evening prayer on Saturday – which can be prayed at noon - Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but you can still have one meal – and two other snacks … if they combine to be less than a full meal – but if it is equal to a full meal –that is a sin. – and of course, liquid does not break the fast – so have that martini- and as the olive is part of the martini- enjoy the olive – that does not break the fast. Just the necessary. No more, no less…
And abstinence on Fridays –but fry that fish with desserts. Also, alligator is not really an animal of the land, so that is ok on Friday – and in Michigan it is ok to have muskrat. – just the rules. No more, no less…
Even the readings in Lent join the legalism – Leviticus gets to come out with more rules – today 9 “though shall nots” – with a total of 13 things not to do - dotting I’s and crossing t’s - Lent a great time for legalists -– all the rules and regulations met … no more, no less
And legalism coming before the judgement seat– proclaiming how great to have followed every rule and regulation – no more, no less – and it might well be heard - “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.”
There are nine “you shall nots” in Leviticus today – perhaps these are not the point - There are also two – “you shalls” – “you shall fear your God.I am the LORD.” – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” – relationships – God and Neighbor – Not something that can be completed and finished, no more or less – something that takes everything - but perhaps what the rules are actually about –what all the “you shall nots” are pointing towards – and doing these God and Neighbor, one will hear - “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”