IV.
In considering the Season of Lent, the Book of Common Prayer invites us to “the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”

While observance of Lent began many, many years after this letter to the Christian community at Corinth, Paul already recognized the need for self-examination.

As you read these words today, take note of the hope you find in them.

V.
2 Corinthians 13:5-11 (NRSVue)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may be restored. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

VI.
It would be easy to read this and see it as negative and threatening. And, indeed, there are some who claim to be preachers of the Gospel that use it in such a way. To cause folk to fear God, if they don’t do things “right.”

Take some time to focus your attention on this statement,

… we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth.

What was that – “ … may appear to have met the test …”

This is not about “testing for testing’s sake;” it is not about a kind of teaching and studying that has only “passing the test” in mind. At times our educational institutions seem more concerned with the percentage of folk who score passing marks on a test and not on the life after the test.

Paul asks us to engage in honest self-examination not to “seem to have met the test” but to equip ourselves to most fully live the life God calls us into.

I have to wonder, what might God ask me to question about my life?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}