This morning we held our Self-Denial Altar Service. Self-Denial is a time where every Salvation Army Corps is encouraged to sacrificially contribute to the worldwide work of The Salvation Army.
In Bangladesh, our self-denial appeal has been run at the same time as lent. This has helped me to reflect a bit more this year. This has been really refreshing and meaningful for me. I have learnt more about Ash Wednesday and Lent, the 40 days of preparation immediately before Good Friday, than ever before. This time has certainly enriched my own spiritual formation. I learnt through this period of lent that I can have self-control. This time has reminded me to cultivate a heart that puts my needs to one side in a way that can deepen my relationships and gives me hope that I can be a blessing to others. I was also able to visit the house of Mother Theresa during this time and I learnt again that Self-Denial is not only about money. Mother Theresa took the smallest room right above the kitchen as it would be the most uncomfortable and hot room; she did not want any of the other sisters to experience this, As Foster writes ‘self-denial means to hold others interests above our interests’.
Alongside this, I have reflected on our organisational self denial appeal. This appeal has been great financially for The Salvation Army across the world and also highlights the amazing generosity of Salvationist. It is needed, it is necessary and it is truly amazing.
However, in other ways we have narrowed view of Self-Denial in The Salvation Army. This morning as I watched people give their gifts, I thought that it is worth reminding ourselves that Self Denial is not just about rich countries raising money for poor countries. It is much more and much richer than that. Every Salvation Army Territory takes part in this across the world, even the weakest and poorest like Bangladesh. It is not just privilege of the rich to take part in Self Denial, it is an international way of expressing love and solidarity.
Jesus went out of his way to highlight the generosity of the poor widow with her two coins, the small boy with his fish and bread, and others who sometimes get labelled as ‘beneficiaries’. As Greenfield writes ‘In the Kingdom of God everyone has a chance to give. Everyone has a chance to serve. And everyone has a chance to participate.’
So Self Denial for me is about brothers and sisters coming together, serving together, giving together and changing the world together. It is a collective spiritual discipline, which also gives us a chance to promote a spirit of interdependence. When each territory comes together and plays its role, we depend on each other and those who are weaker are actually indispensable.
So as I reflect on lent and self-denial, I am immensely thankful for everyone who considers the poor whether in Bangladesh or in Kenya or in the UK or in theUSA. I am also immensely thankful that our internationalism makes it possible to learn to welcome the needy because they are our brothers and sisters, and because we can only change the world together.
BanglaBradburys 