“WIIFM? (What's in it for me?)”

Reflecting on the meaning of today’s gospel, the late Lutheran Pastor Sharron Riessinger Blezard once wrote,

“The world is going crazy for some of the followers of Jesus in this week’s gospel reading.  Speculation bordering on gossip seems to be in the air as they relate stories of Pilate’s brutal murder of some Galileans who were worshiping.  Their blood had been mixed with the blood of sacrifices. How can this be?  Why do such awful things happen?  What did they do that would bring about this kind of horrible and shameful death?

Jesus has just finished up setting the crowd straight about the cost of following him and what is required for faithful discipleship, and it appears folks still aren’t getting it.  Jesus brings up another top news story–the 18 people in Jerusalem who are killed when a tower fell on and crushed them.  There is no difference between the two events, Jesus states.”

Now, according to St Luke, Jesus said that it was not a matter of degrees of rightness or wrongness, sin or sainthood, but it was just life catching up with one.  But then Jesus added another outlandish statement, “Death can only be avoided by conversion.”  Seriously Jesus?

Can you imagine the apostles asking Jesus, “Does it mean that if one follows the narrow way nothing bad will come to pass?  And what about the Galileans who were doing the right thing at the right place and yet, they were killed right then and there?  What else can you ask from them, Jesus?  They were worshipping God, and they were following the Law, and yet they died in a horrible way.  What else did they had to do to be spared from death?  Jesus?!”

(Without straying from the lessons, such kind of conversation could have been possible.  Do you remember the disciples asking, “If the rich can’t, then, who can be saved?  Matthew 19:25)

There are many ways to consider the meaning of Lent.  One, quite probably the most popular belief is that Lent, like Tax Season is the time to pay our dues, both spiritual through prayer, Bible reading, showing up in church more often, and giving up chocolate – or coffee.  Or more relevant, perhaps in cash, by catching up with pledges or buying groceries for the food bank.

Another way is to consider Lent as a sort of vaccine.  If one toes the line, and follow directions at least for a couple of weeks, one may gain immunity against a possible calamity or take days off purgatory.  If we can learn something from the story of the Galileans or the poor fellows who died on the tower’s collapse, it is that doing the right thing or just passing by will spare no one of from the side effects of life.

So, it was not surprising that in those days some people said – and still repeat to this day – “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die.”  Or, in a more contemporary version, “If we are all going to die anyway, why does anything matter?”

To be candid, for God it doesn’t matter at all.  Yes, it is true that God loves us and cares for us, and that our passing away will never be just shrugged off.  Indeed, God loves us so much that He gave His only Son in ransom for our salvation.  God not only cares about us but often goes out of his way to meet us and to bring us back home.

But God – as a self-sufficient God – doesn’t need any of us, or the church for that matter.  And, yet that it is not the end of it!

For even if we are going to die anyway, it should be a matter of concern to us not so much when and how are we going to die, but if at the end we can stand tall and say, “With the cards which I had on hand, I did my best.” 

So, standing tall, even if it does not spare us from death, it will certainly spare us of regrets and self-doubt.  In other words, following the narrow way will bring us a sense of satisfaction in knowing that we brought the good fruit – life sustaining fruit – to just one soul or to the world in need.

But Lent is not just about how we end, but how we live today.  Indeed, our gain is not what it’s in for me (WIIFM???), but what it’s in for all of us.

In embracing the spirit of Lent, we are called to reflection, repentance, and ultimately, transformation – in other words, conversion.  So, the journey is not about avoiding the inevitable hardships of life but about cultivating a resilience and inner strength which will allow us to face them with grace and purpose.  It is a season to bear witness that no matter what, there is always a better way – the way of love, compassion, and mercy in all we do, and in all we stand for.

As we tread this narrow path, we are reminded that the fruits of our labor are not measured in material successes or accolades, but in the positive impact we make on the lives of others.  In the grand scheme of things, our sacrifices and efforts may seem small.  However, they all contribute to the greater good by helping us to build a world according to what God values most – Love, grace, and mercy.

In this way, Lent becomes a season of hope and renewal, a time to shed old ways and embrace new beginnings.  It is a time to draw closer to God, to seek His guidance, and to trust in His steadfast love and mercy.  And as we navigate the trials and tribulations of life, we will be able to do so with the assurance that we are not alone, for God walks with us every step of the way.

In the end, the true essence of Lent lies in the transformation of our hearts and minds, leading us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world, under God.  It is a journey that calls us to hope for the better, to be better, to do better, and to live in a way that honors the best in us and in our neighbor.  And, as much as possible, it calls us to bear witness to God’s ultimate goodness in all and for all.  And that’s is what it is in for me – and for all of us, indeed!

For, as we know, Jesus never asked, "What's in it for me?" but rather, "What do you want ME to do for you?"

Fr. Gustavo