Lenten Thoughts

Nearly two weeks ago, we kicked of the Lenten season in Chapel by observing Ash Wednesday. We are now well into the season.  The idea of Lent is to take the opportunity to more fully identify with the life of Jesus as he walked in the Way of the Cross.  In doing so, we recognize the themes of Life and Death, which are integral to our faith. 

In short, at the risk of oversimplification, it could be summarized by “we live to the extent we die” . No cross- no resurrection….

While there are many texts that speak to this, consider the words of Jesus as He declares that the time for His departure is imminent. 

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  John 12:23-26

From the human end, Lent can be seen as ‘deprivation’.  It is a period when we deny ourselves, whether of food or things that we might find pleasurable. However, if it simply ends there, we miss the point entirely.  It  is a period where we make space in our lives in order to receive what God would graciously give. Too often we are so absorbed by the fulfillment of our appetites and basic urges that we are quite unreceptive to what He would graciously give of Himself. 

You may have missed the beginning of Lent. It’s not too late to start.  Jump in. Do something.  In fact, whatever steps you take towards God, in faith, are of benefit. 

Consider the following exhortations from the Writer to the Hebrews.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hb 12:1

Those two categories cover a lot of options. There are those things that we can identify as sin. We need to break free from them. That means  renouncing and repenting. And there are those things, whether good, neutral or not so good that entangle us. They steal our attention, time or resources.  There is something powerful that happens when we make a choice to throw them off,  for whatever period of time, so that we can pursue God and fulfill His purposes.

And finally, these words which speak so powerfully for themselves.

…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… Hb 10:22b