There are many popular views of exactly what Lent is. If you grew up Lutheran, you probably remember extra church services on Wednesdays, a somber tone to worship even on Sundays and a focus on the Crucifixion. If you grew up in another Protestant denomination, perhaps you remember a time of preparation for Easter. If you were raised Roman Catholic, perhaps you remember meatless Fridays and fish fries—a tradition the Legion in town continues. Perhaps over the years you have tried giving something up (chocolate, coffee, sweets) or taking something on (extra devotions, Bible reading time, etc.). But have you ever stopped to ask: Why? Why Lent? Why these practices? Why this 40-day focus on things such as giving to the poor, prayer and fasting?
Sometimes I think Lent is seen as something we have to get through so that we can get to the really good thing: the joy of Easter. Lent is also often seen as a time of intense spiritual exercises: giving things up or fasting, giving to the poor and doing works of mercy, praying and reading Scripture. In both of these scenarios, Lent is something that we do for a while (40 days) and then are done. Whew! Thank goodness for Easter!
There is a sense in which Lent is preparation for Easter and there is a sense in which Lent is a time of intense spiritual exercises. But this month I want to focus on Lent itself: its purpose and its power. Lent is a time when we focus intently on two things: 1) Jesus’ passion, suffering and crucifixion and 2) our life of faith. Our worship will invite us to focus on the first; our faith practices of almsgiving/works of mercy, prayer and fasting—together called the Discipline of Lent—will invite us to focus on the second. And here is where the rubber hits the road. Lent is a time to focus intensely on things that are central to what it means to be a Christian all the time.
Lent is time of preparation: not so that we can stop doing “Lenten things” when Easter comes, but as an intense “boot camp” so that we can soldier on as Christians every day of the year. During Lent we focus on Jesus and his suffering on our behalf—and are invited to keep Jesus and his Cross before our eyes every day, in every situation. During Lent we give to the poor and perform works of mercy to all, so that we can begin to do this every day of our lives. During Lent we fast and give things up, so that we can begin every day to renounce not just stuff, but the sin that clings so close to us. During Lent we pray and read Scripture, so that every day our lives can be saturated by and surrounded by prayer and God’s word.
Easter does loom on the horizon. In fact, its joy is present even now. During these days let us continue our Lenten journey, becoming by grace who God has created us to be.
