First Sunday of Lent
Deuteronomy 26: 1 – 11 Luke 4: 1 - 13
Harvest seems like ages ago. Our gardens and our fields were ripe and full of crops. Time was spent gathering them all in. Some of our gleanings were sent off to market by the farmers. Some were frozen to be kept for future months by the one on charge of the food in our homes. And being harvest some was kept to one side and brought to Church for the Harvest Festivals.
It might seem strange writing about Harvest as we are about to see the start of spring. In fact, by today, the First Sunday of Lent, many people have given up a favourite food. Harvest is far from their mind.
Today’s Old Testament reading relates to the presentation of the first fruits. We, at Harvest, may gather a selection from our gardens, and bringing them to Church we offer our thanks to God for his goodness. Through him we have the sun and the rain, the warmth and the goodness, which allow and encourage the seed that we have sown to grow to ripeness. The token gift to God is just that. A token of our thanks for his providence which has allowed us to work the land and reap its rewards.
In this reading from Deuteronomy the laws were being followed. The first fruits of the crop had to be brought before the Levites and the Priests and set down before them. In doing so a format of words was used dedicating the first fruits to God.
After this celebration, in furtherance of the requirements of the law, there would be a feast. The bounty that had been brought before the Lord would be shared with the Levites, the Priests and aliens. All would rejoice in the goodness of the Lord.
But that is not all. After fleeing from the Egyptians and settling in a land given them by God it must have been like a journey of exploration. Looking about them, it could be seen just how fruitful the land was. Encouraged by this the crops of all kinds would be tried to see which were best. It was the first fruits of these crops that would be brought as an offering to God.
When we move to a new property, we also look about us to try to gain an idea of what may be grown. We take advantage of position, of fertility, and of the type of soil. These guide our choice of seed. In a much larger way, the similar thing happens if we move abroad. We change our gardening habits to suit the conditions about us.
We do something very similar ourselves. We change our pattern of living to suit our earnings, our position, a new way of living. As we settle in our new communities we begin to flourish and gain in well-being. This also we can give thanks to God for, just as with a harvest. Indeed, it is a harvest of ourselves. We can come before the Church and join with others in worship, singing songs of praise, hearing about the word of God, and coming before him in prayer.
That which was done thousands of years ago still is pertinent today, especially when we apply today’s values and standards. Lent is traditionally a time to give something up. As we begin our Lenten observance, we can give to God ourselves, for him to use as he sees fit.
Collect for the First Sunday of Lent
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.