Served by angels
Matthew 4: 1-11 New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE February 22, 2026 Photo of Black children standing in a line as adults dish out food into takeout containers for them. About what feels like a million years ago when I was an associate pastor in Dayton, OH, my senior minister colleague created a Lenten theme entitled “Pardon my Lenten smile”. He had buttons made for everyone. I still have mine. It wasn’t about positive thinking or wearing a smile over our misery but a reminder about Jesus’ instruction about fasting. Jesus said that we shouldn’t look morose like the hypocrites who mark their faces to show they are fasting. Instead, we should look our best, perhaps even smile, so that our fasting is not obvious to anyone but God. This year, given the struggle and misery already present in our world, some folks are suggesting a similar take on Lent. One online worship liturgy group has the theme “Tell me something good”. Nadia Bolz-Weber is inviting people to pos...
