Lent is here. It’s tomorrow and I’m not sure I’m ready.
I do have my plan, but I thought it was next week and now I am being thrust into this journey sooner than I anticipated. But perhaps, this is appropriate. Perhaps it’s how the disciples felt when Jesus made his march toward Jerusalem and it didn’t look anything like they expected. He didn’t seem to be armed for a political overthrow or ready to put them in power. Instead, Jesus started with a meal. He talked about blood being shed and flesh being consumed — His blood! His flesh! And when they started yet another debate about who would be the greatest, he picked up a towel rather than giving them each a title. He spoke of betrayal and denial and then he took them to pray — and they promptly fell asleep.
Lent is 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and faced the temptation of Satan before he entered his public ministry. When Jesus took his friends to pray (before and after they fell asleep) he told them to pray for themselves that they would not fall into temptation. Jesus knew temptation and he didn’t want them to give in. But, of course, they did. Just like us.
Lent is a time of focused prayer. Lent is our time to join Jesus in the wilderness. Lent is not just a time to give up chocolate or diet cokes, it is a time to draw closer to Jesus.
“. . . I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ, and be found in him . . . I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . .” [Philippians 3:8-10]
Here are some resources to help you enter into the journey of Lent:
A 40-Day Reading Plan: Read through the New Testament for Lent
Small Surrenders: A Lenten Journey
Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent
Place at the Table, A: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor
I’d love to hear about your Lenten Journey! Please post your comments.
simply Jesus 