Today, the day before Ash Wednesday, is known by many names:  Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras, in French), Carnival, Pancake Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday.  It is a day of feasting and celebration for some, self-examination and introspection for others – for many, a little bit of both – as we prepare our hearts and minds for the Lenten season that begins tomorrow.

Today’s Scriptures provide a good starting point for our spiritual preparation for Lent.  Jesus cautions “against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod,” any small thing that could keep us distracted from or unreceptive to Jesus and the message He gave through his teachings and life.  Leaven, as you know, is an agent that in small, seemingly insignificant amounts, causes a little bit of dough to expand into a large batch. 

When we read the verses from James, we see temptation acting as a kind of leaven, which turns wants into desires, and desires into full-blown sins as we seek our own purposes instead of God’s.  It is not hard to find examples of temptations leading to small problems that then mushroom into severe troubles or addictions, which in turn break up families, disrupt communities, and destroy lives. 

We may find it difficult to discern all of the ways that the tempter tries to fill us with anger, fear, pessimism, doubt, despair, and hopelessness – anything that might move us or others away from the love, peace and truth embodied by Christ.  We may not recognize when the impulse to respond to immoral, unrighteous behavior (real or perceived) in an unloving manner becomes leaven that yields division, disunity, and distance from God.  We may not realize how comparing ourselves to others fosters misery and self-doubt, robbing us (to paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt) of the joy that should be ours as depression rears its ugly head.

There is hope, though.  Contrary to what the tempter may whisper in our ears, God loves us and will not leave us alone.  We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions, to uplift us, to correct us lovingly, to bring us peace, to shepherd us in shadowy times and to help us root out the leaven of temptation.

Loving God, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.  Holy Spirit, abide in us and fill us with Your wisdom, peace, hope and love.