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“Don’t
make your lenten observance something that you do for yourself,
but make it a gift to God."
~ Anglicanprayer.wordpress.com
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Lent 2010
Today
marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
For
many people this brings back memories of strange rituals and
meaningless fasts. They recall a childhood that involved getting wet
ash pasted on their forehead once a year and then six to seven weeks of
some deprivation. It was just part of “being Catholic” or “being”
something else.
Perhaps
this Lent can be different—not an obligation but an opportunity.
Lent
(which means “Spring”) mirrors the 40-day fast of Jesus in the
wilderness. It’s a time of self-denial in some specific way for a very
specific reason…to draw closer to Christ, to give Him our attention.
In
the western Church, Lent runs for 46 days, starting today and finishing
the day before Easter Sunday. It excludes the six Sundays between now
and then because each Sunday we celebrate the risen Christ and that’s
no time to fast! Thus, the entire experience incorporates 40 days of
fasting.
What
should we fast from? It’s a matter of personal choice. Some folk choose
to fast from television (they’re hardy souls) while others elect to
forego chocolate, sweets or desserts. TV may be easier! Still others
pass up dairy products or red meat, while some might plan a Facebook
fast or electronic games fast.
The
issue is not what we fast from but that what we choose
represents some degree of sacrifice to us and something that we’ll miss
sufficiently that it calls us to prayerfulness and attentiveness to
Christ on a regular basis. Giving up Coke or French fries might stretch
and focus some of us.
Lent,
of course, is not about torture or self-abuse. It’s simply a spiritual
discipline that opens a window for us to encounter Christ more deeply.
We ought not walk around with long faces telling the world about our
efforts. That makes us the center of the experience, rather than
Christ. And we’d gain nothing.
What’s
wonderful about Lent is simply this: It’s not that we “have to” but
that we “get to.” We are free to ignore it altogether without any risk
to our eternal security. Lent does not save us. But it can shape us for
a richer and more intimate experience of Christ.
Perhaps
this Lent we can know Him and gain Him in new ways. Might this be the
start of a spiritual revival within our own lives and perhaps our
families?
In
HOPE –
David
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