Prepared by Larry Hollar, Lent 2005  

The season of Lent this year coincides with the time when the U.S. Congress considers the federal budget. In setting spending and revenue targets in the annual budget resolution, Congress makes important moral decisions that affect people who are poor and hungry in our nation and world.   

During Lent Christians honestly reflect on the brokenness and alienation in our lives and our world. What better time to examine the choices we make as a nation and their effect on our neighbors who are vulnerable today.  

Many anti-hunger advocates fear that this year's federal budget will bring bad news for programs that seek to reduce poverty and hunger. If so, many pastors and lay people will want to reflect, in sermons and Bible studies during Lent and beyond, on how we are called to stand with our brothers and sisters who are vulnerable and to speak out to our leaders about the decisions they will make throughout this year. To help this discernment and the advocacy that may flow from it, I offer these reflections on the Lectionary passages for Year A that occur on Ash Wednesday and the five Sundays of Lent, pointing toward themes that relate to the federal budget as a profoundly moral document.  

Each reflection concludes with an italicized question related to the current congressional budget debate. Scripture citations include the day they occur (e.g., Lent 1 is the First Sunday of Lent). In 2005, Lent 1 is February 13 and Lent 5 is March 13.  

For additional justice-oriented biblical reflections for Lent and throughout the church year, see Hunger for the Word: Lectionary Reflections on Food and Justice, Year A, available from Bread for the World.

Themes 

The federal budget offers our elected leaders the chance to make choices that have consequences for those on the margins of our society; it compels our leaders to confront reality and act from that basis; and it has the potential to embody the best values of our nation. Let's look at each of these themes, and see where those themes find root in the Lectionary cycle of Year A Lenten readings.

Making Choices that Have Consequences

Eve's and Adam's decisions in the Garden (Genesis 3:1-7, Lent 1) are the classic testimony to human freedom to choose. A new awareness of reality immediately dawns.

How is truth either manipulated or misunderstood, or affirmed, as humans prepare to make important decisions? How does Congress make its choices, and how can groups that seek to influence those decisions not be seen as serpents with questionable intent?   

Abram's commitment to embark with his family on a journey of God's choosing and to become a blessing to all the earth's families is a choice rooted in Abram's faith (Genesis 12:3-4, Lent 2). The covenant God proclaims becomes a cornerstone in God's relation with Israel for generations, constantly calling the people back to find ways to be a blessing to the world.

In what ways does our nation's budget reflect a desire to be a blessing to those who are hungry and poor in our nation and in other countries, and in what ways does the budget make their journeys more difficult and dangerous?  

The Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42, Lent 3) chooses to engage Jesus in a powerful, challenging, trusting dialogue across societal and religious boundaries and prohibitions. She accepts Jesus' offer of living water and tells others about her encounter with the Messiah, transforming their lives as well as hers.

How does the budget engage dialogue between Republicans, Democrats and Independents about important core values we share, and how does it transform lives, for good or ill, by the choices Congress makes?     

The man described as "blind from birth" (John 9:1-41, Lent 4) chooses to trust Jesus' order that he go and wash to gain his sight. But the public and religious leaders are skeptical of his choice, unable to believe that Jesus could, or should, have changed someone of this man's marginal status. They lack the vision and courage to embrace the change that clearly has happened.

How can we assure members of Congress that they can be courageous in choosing to support programs that help hungry people, and not have to fear that a disbelieving public and cynical pundits will disparage the powerful changes that result when needy people are blessed and not forgotten.      

What do we make of a dream deferred — of Jesus lingering elsewhere until Lazarus dies, rather than rushing to save the day? (John 11:5-6, Lent 5). How is God glorified in that choice, as Jesus affirms life's power over death?

Congress can act now to save people's lives, to make hunger history. Will our leaders linger and wait, or will they act?

Confronting Reality and Acting On It

The devil confronts Jesus with alternative visions of reality, forcing choices that reflect Jesus' priorities. Fasting--even in the face of alluring bread--clarifies Jesus' resolve. (Matthew 4:1-10, Lent 1).

How does Congress face similar temptations toward unbridled power and corruption, and what disciplines does Congress need to adopt to make wise choices among competing alternatives?  

Public grumbling goes with political territory (Exodus 17:1-7, Lent 3). Old ways or pat ideologies may seem more attractive than emerging, costly realities. Water, food, all forms of sustenance may seem scarce in the wilderness, but God provides through human hands.

How can advocates help move Congress away from a wilderness spirit of timidity and limitation into an atmosphere of hope, trust and abundance as it prepares a budget?  

Jesus challenges the Samaritan woman to face her truth (John 4:16-18, Lent 3), putting aside an old life to be open to transformation through the fresh reality of living water (4:13-15). In doing so she is freed to enter into a new relationship with Jesus and to become a bold, vocal leader in her community.

How can Congress see its leadership as a form of servanthood, requiring change in the ways it carries on its daily life before it can testify to others about new images of the future?  

The reality of blindness, Jesus says, does not have roots in sin and blame and finger-pointing (John 9:1-3, Lent 4). When that reality changes to new sight, it's neither easy to explain (9:25) nor simple to embrace (9:8-17, 34), but the truth is that everything is different.

How can advocates help Congress avoid applying legalisms and blame to situations demanding compassion and justice?  

Naming death as a mystifying reality (John 11:11-14, Lent 5) and confronting deep pain at the loss of Lazarus (11:33-35), Jesus overcomes the stench of finality that others fear (11:39-44). A vast valley of dry bones--potentially a devastating final chapter — is transformed as the inspiration of new life enters and adds flesh and sinews, hope and vitality (Ezekiel 37:1-14, Lent 5).

What are the fears that keep Congress from acting boldly and faithfully to embrace places where new life, rather than death, are possible in our budget choices?

Embodying Our Best Values

Trusting in worldly goods is useless; our wealth has a higher calling. Where we keep our treasure, Jesus says, is a clear indication where our heart is (Matthew 6:19-21, Ash Wednesday).

How can Congress see our entire national budget as a core testimony to where our country's heart and deepest values reside?  

The temptation to adopt narrowly selfish ways and to use control for our own benefit are constantly alluring alternatives to practicing generosity and serving and praising God (Matthew 4:1-11, Lent 1). Even the promise of bread to break a hungry world's fast is empty if it overshadows God's deeper saving Word (4:3-4).

How can we help our leaders reject the allure of selfish power and affirm the deeper call to feed our children?  

Everything is the Lord's, who created all things, the world and us (Psalm 95:4-7, Lent 3).

How can Congress acknowledge that what we have is not ours to keep but is entrusted to us to share so all the earth can prosper?  

Our actions build on what others have done before us. We reap a harvest that prior generations planted in faith but will not see (John 4:37-38, Lent 3).

In what ways can Congress continue to cherish the legacy of programs and policies that earlier leaders created to undergird our nation's well-being, while also plowing and planting productive new fields for the future?  

Jesus' first act in raising Lazarus from death is to order that he be unbound from his grave cloths (John 11:44, Lent 5). How is our first call, in trusting Jesus' saving power, to help free others from the bonds of oppression, misery, hunger, poverty and disease?

From what must Congress be unbound to fulfill the renewed life and vocation it has today: to help bring hope to a needy world in the moral choices our leaders make?

Writer's note: These reflections are not copyrighted and may be used freely so long as attribution to the writer is given in a way appropriate to the context of their use. For questions, contact Larry Hollar at (937) 227-9450.