This week begins the Christian season of Lent. Each year during Lent, we are all invited to join Jesus on the journey to the cross. Lent is a season where Christians, Jesus followers, are invited once again to pick up their cross and travel with Jesus. The cross is the cross of love and discipleship, faithfulness and devotion, repentance and renewal. Part of how we will attempt to do that here at Gray Memorial is by using the book "The Way" (Adam Hamilton) to help guide us along the path of Jesus; we will be using this book to follow in the footsteps of Jesus that ultimately led to the cross.
(We meet at 4:00 PM on Sundays).
Ash Wednesday begins this journey, although Jesus did not observe this day. This day is designed to begin the Lenten season with a sense of focus on God and our commitment to draw near to God for the next 40 days. On this day, we remember that "for dust you are and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19). This reminds us that we are human beings in need of God's grace in our lives, of God's presence. But this is not a passive affair. Although God's grace is available for us all, God invites us to a life that is committed to this grace. God can make your life new, restore it to it's fullness, if we take the opportunity to pursue God. The season of Lent helps us to do that. During these 40 days, you have the opportunity to dedicate your life to God again. You have the chance remind yourself of the goodness of God, and boldly run towards God.
This running towards God, this repentance, this commitment to God, takes place in many forms. For some, the season of Lent is a time to give up something that stands in the way of their devotion to God, i.e., limiting time in front of the TV or online so that it is freed up to read Scripture and/or pray. For others, this a time of addition: practices of devotion and piety are added to the "schedule" in order to pursue God intentionally. Others fast and pray in their pursuit of God. Search your heart, pray to God, and reflect on what will help you pursue God more intentionally this season.
The proverbial "elephant in the room" with all of this chatter about how meaningful the season of Lent can be is that we are tempted to do something else with our time and energy. I hear you. There's nothing I want to do more on some days than prop my feet up and watch copious amounts of television. I deserve it! When I wake up in the morning, the last thing I want to do is get out of bed and read. I like food; it tastes good and makes me happy, and often provides a great atmosphere for fellowship. I understand! There are temptations to decline the invitation and tell God, tell ourselves, we don't need to do more, what we really need is to rest and relax. I hear you loud and clear.
Lent is not another thing for Christians to do for God so that God will like them. The motivation, also, should not be to appear righteous before others (Matthew 6 has some things to say about this). This season of Lent is about YOU. God will not change, and others' opinions of you do not determine where your spiritual journey will end up. Jesus' ended at the cross, and that's where ours can lead us, too. We are tempted to want our journies to end up elsewhere: success, wealth, etc. Jesus' journey ended at the cross, although he was tempted (Luke 4:1-13) to have it end elsewhere. Jesus was tempted with temporary things (nourishment, wealth, safety) just like we are. Although probably no one is offering you the glory of ruling over all of the kingdoms (Luke 4:7), in this life you will have to choose between following God and following something else, just like Jesus was. This season is an opportunity to choose the path to the cross, to choose to follow Jesus. And your life will never be more empty and, simultaneously, full at the same time. Take your chance.
In Christ,
Jack
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