Have you ever wondered what Lent is? I mean, what is it really supposed to be? As Presbyterians, we don’t put a huge emphasis the daily manifestation of Lent. We mark it on Sundays during our worship, but during the week does Lent really affect our daily lives? For most of us the answer would be a resounding “no”. What should we be doing during Lent?
Before He began His ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the desert. He denied Himself food, comfort, shelter and companionship. He prepared Himself for His great calling. He prepared Himself for His ministry and ultimately, His death. Through the ritual of self-denial and meditation He made Himself ready.
Our celebration of Lent and Easter frequently coincide with the Jewish celebration of Passover. In many homes, the entire dwelling is cleaned of every leavened food, and in more orthodox homes the whole structure is scrubbed and vacuumed to ensure that every crumb is removed in preparation for the celebration of God’s great miracle when He freed the Israelites from their Egyptian oppressors. Upholstery, even drapes, are laundered to render the home ready for the festival.
So what is the purpose of Lent? It is our time of preparing ourselves, our own hearts, for the even greater miracle God visited upon us in His own sacrifice on the cross. It is our time to ritually cleanse our selves, our minds, our lives, to make ready for the fulfillment of His promise. Before we can approach the cross with true and lowly fear, we need to remind ourselves of our deep and abiding need for salvation.
But Lent is not supposed to be a period of self-flagellation or despondence. We have the benefit of knowing how the story ends. We know that Christ rises, victorious. We know that the Cross is not the end ofthe story, but the beginning. We know that the Good News is not that He came, nor that He was here, but that His Spirit remains here still, that He lives and so, too, we shall live.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord…
Begin with your heart.
