The Lenten Observance
Today begins the annual Lenten observance, the period of 40 days (actually 46 days) before the celebration of Easter Sunday in the Christian communities of faith throughout the world. On most Western culture calendars, the day is known as Ash Wednesday. This is the day when Christian churches dispense ashes in the form of a cross on the foreheads of parishioners. The form of the cross and the words of the minister or priest that go with the dispensing, are to remind us of our human mortality. The reality that life is short and we should take time to reflect on our lives, our conduct, and our morality, repent of our sins and seek reconciliation with God in preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter. The Sunday observance when we rejoice over the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and His bringing salvation to us all.
Lent in My Earlier Years
Being raised Roman Catholic from my birth in the early 1950’s, until I converted and joined the United Methodist Church in 2006; Lent was an interesting time in my family. This six-week period of time on the calendar evoked a very radical change in our family habits. My Mom and Dad ensured the family strictly followed the church’s rules regarding fasting, abstaining, and the identification by each member of the family on what we were “giving up” during Lent. You know, what specific activity, comfort, or food source in your daily life were you going to “sacrifice” in remembrance of Jesus’ great sacrifice for all mankind.
By my attending parochial elementary school, I was bombarded with “guidance” from my teachers (mostly nuns), friends, and of course, my siblings for how to best comply with the rules of Lent. Now mind you, being a young boy, my classmates and I were more focused on the “legalistic” side of the rules for the observance. So if I “gave up” candy for Lent, I thought, “…I can probably make it for six weeks without my favorite Snickers candy bar…” with self-assurance that on Easter Sunday, I’d have a “mother load” of candy in my Easter basket.
Now of course, Mom would also impose the general family “sacrifice” of having no desserts after dinner throughout Lent, just in case any of us kids were to commit any infractions in our Lenten practices. Thanks, Mom.
Lent in My Later Years
However, over the past few decades of my life, observing Lent as an adult has dramatically changed my perspective on Lenten practices. I now use this time to do some deeper introspection of my life and doing some self-analysis for how I’m getting closer to God (or not) through my daily reading and prayer time. How about you?
Are you going to use your Lenten time wisely? Are the Lenten practices in your life a “one and done”, “check the box” activity that you will push yourself to get through each week during Lent? Or are you making the more sincere effort to learn more about yourself and your relationship with the Lord?
Metamorphosis of the Soul
I will pray to God that this year’s Lent will be a time of metamorphosis for your soul. Analogous to the process for the caterpillar transforming itself into the beautiful, graceful, and majestic butterfly; you too can transform your heart and soul into a majestic spirit soaring ever higher and ever closer to God.
I challenge you to pray that these next six weeks will give you the courage and strength to transform your life. Make good use of your time in prayer to commit yourself to reconciling your relationship with God. You can start by reconciling with others in your life; your spouse, parents, siblings, children, co-workers, and other people in your daily encounters. As your reconciliation process continues and matures, so goes your ultimate reconciliation with God.
These acts of reconciliation will be your Lenten observance sacrifice, which will enable you to follow Jesus and His Way for eternal life for the rest of your life. As expressed in Matthew 16: 24-26, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” One must turn away from former ways of this life in the natural and focus on His ways to save your spiritual life for all eternity.
A New Type of Satisfaction
That “life” that Jesus is referring to is our natural life in the secular world. It is futile to try to satisfy our deepest cravings with earthly things of this world.
As John describes in his gospel of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4: 10-14), “…Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 1But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
The true cravings of our heart and soul can only be eternally satisfied through a relationship with God. Recognizing, understanding, and cultivating our relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ on a daily basis is the only way to quench the unending thirst for knowledge, truth and unconditional love we want for our lives.
I will pray for you this Lenten season that you will be transformed by reconciling your heart, mind, soul and life with God. As for yourself, pray for insight as to what God wants you to do for Him, to fulfill His purpose for your life by serving Him to the best of your abilities. Put all of your trust in Him, listen for His guidance and then surrender to His will, being confident that God will always be there to help you. In the end, your life will be better for taking the step of faith and trusting Him with your life. Rest assured that He will not let you down. For as a child of God, He will protect you, provide for you, and will give you guidance to His heavenly kingdom. All you have to do is BELIEVE. Then you can find rest from your weariness and peace for your soul in His loving arms.
Live, Learn, and Grow in Jesus!!
Blessings,
Jerry
