Is there anything more wonderful than the beginning of a sacred holiday season? No, there is not.
The wonder of these sacred holidays is that they simply cannot be fully appreciated and celebrated in just one day (or two if stretched). Not if you want a robust, meaningful celebration at the end - on The Day, that is.
Today marks the 40-day journey toward Easter; Lent begins. Lent is to Easter what Advent is to Christmas - preparation of the heart. A slowing down and remembering just what it is we are annually commemorating.
The focus of Lent is three-fold: the disciplines of fasting, prayer and giving to the poor.
It's a time to remember Jesus' ministry on earth, why He came. To bring yourself back to where you were and the shape you were in when He called you into relationship with Him and His Father, God Himself. To recall your sinful state and helplessness to save yourself, your need of a savior. The utter joy of being rescued from sin and self and the beginning of a new life in Christ.
I like how Charles Spurgeon puts it:
"Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow over your hardness of heart.
Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first received salvation.
Go at once to the cross...this will bring us back to our first love;
this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart."*
I love that! And I know I could use the reminder, the redirect of my gaze from so many distractions and even from the hardening of a prideful, self-centered heart that shifts sometimes without intention, sometimes with.
Repentance is not a four-letter word. It's a gift. We should welcome it as such. Definition: deep sorrow, contrition or regret over sin, wrongdoing or the like.
It is good for us to spend some time mulling over this dark area of our lives. Trust me, it's not negative because every sin has already been forgiven by Jesus' death and resurrection - do you see where this is going? - to be celebrated on Easter Sunday.
So, let's do the work (is it work?) of walking the road to the cross with Jesus. Taking a long look inside, telling Him what we see, saying we're sorry. Entering into His suffering with gratitude. Enjoying His friendship. Forty days really isn't too long. Most worthwhile benefit usually needs a measure of time, not merely a day.
He is eager to receive us if we've been gone awhile. In John 6:37, Jesus says, "...whoever comes to me, I will never cast out." That's a promise. We have nothing to fear.
I find Lenten fasts refreshing. They breathe new life where boredom or spiritual laziness has crept in. Hard at times, of course - that's the point - revealing what has a hold on me. Whatever I "give up", I replace with a new or more frequent prayer practice and increased Bible reading (the Gospels!). Emptying and denying for a while bring sharpness and clarity in hearing and understanding the Bible and in prayer. It's supernatural and marvelous, I can't explain it.
I heard it said once, we thin our lives to thicken our devotion to God, our Father who loves us.
Spiritual muscles are strengthened. Less time is spent worrying about getting my needs and wants fulfilled and I notice others, try to meet theirs if I can.
I wrote in my journal this morning that I'm hoping for transformation during these 40 days. That I might take on more of the character of Jesus, think more like He does, say things He might say, do what He does. Love better. Less of me, more of Him.
I wrote about death to Angela a few weeks ago if you missed it. This is the stuff Lent is about.
Here's the thing, Resurrection Sunday is coming. Honoring it needs to be so much more than just a new pastel outfit, a basket full of candy, going to church and family brunch after.
Imagine how thrilling the living Jesus and empty tomb you celebrate will be after you've considered your life in honest awareness, confession and repentance of your sins; denied self and decadent indulgences, making room in your busy life for prayer; noticed and generously given to those in need; and entered into the weight of Jesus' suffering and sorrow for a season. This is Love.
Truly, this is the most important holiday of all and we want to be ready to celebrate it with gusto!
Go ahead, enjoy your red foil-wrapped chocolates and other goodies today, given and received in love.
More importantly, may the memory of your entry into faith with your true First Love draw you into a most meaningful Easter season.
*Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman, p. 107
