Matthew 6:25-33
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Reflection:
Distrust is atheism, and the barrier to all growth. Lord, we do not understand thee, because we do not trust thy Father--whole-hearted to us, as never yet was mother to her first-born! Full of care, as if he had none, we think this and that escapes his notice, for this and that he does not think! While we who are evil would die to give our children bread to eat, we are not certain the only Good will give us anything of what we desire! The things of thy world so crowd our hearts, that there is no room in them for the things of thy heart, which would raise ours above all fear, and make us merry children in our Father's house! Surely many a whisper of the watching Spirit we let slip through brooding over a need not yet come to us! To-morrow makes to-day's whole head sick, its whole heart faint. When we should be still, sleeping or dreaming, we are fretting about an hour that lies a half sun's-journey away! Not so doest thou, Lord! thou doest the work of thy Father! Wert thou such as we, then should we have good cause to be troubled! But thou knowest it is difficult, things pressing upon every sense, to believe that the informing power of them is in the unseen; that out of it they come; that, where we can descry no hand directing, a will, nearer than any hand, is moving them from within, causing them to fulfil his word! Help us to obey, to resist, to trust.
-George MacDonald
Unspoken Sermons: Series Two, “The Cause of Spiritual Stupidity”
Prayer:
My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed myself
and quieted my ambitions.
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
(Psalm 131)
2/20/10
2/19/10
Saturday 2/20
Suggested Practice:
When you read God's Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ''It is talking to me, and about me. - Soren Kierkegaard
Find a quiet and solitary place to read the scripture below. Read it slowly and out loud. Remind yourself that this is the voice of God speaking to you. Let this voice draw you into conversation with God. As you read, respond. Spend some time praying through this passage of scripture.
Isaiah 55
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord ’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
When you read God's Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ''It is talking to me, and about me. - Soren Kierkegaard
Find a quiet and solitary place to read the scripture below. Read it slowly and out loud. Remind yourself that this is the voice of God speaking to you. Let this voice draw you into conversation with God. As you read, respond. Spend some time praying through this passage of scripture.
Isaiah 55
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord ’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
Friday 2/19
Prayer:
Lord, teach me to live in absolute obedience, submission and sacrifice. May I be always ready to do your will, to give all I have for the sake of your will, whatever the cost. I sacrifice my own will to yours. I desire you above all else.
2 Samuel 24:18-25
On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad.
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”
Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Reflection:
Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain of mustard seed. Begin where you are. Live this present moment, this present hour as you now sit in your seats, in utter, utter submission and openness toward Him. Listen outwardly to these words, but within, behind the scenes, in the deeper levels of your lives where you are all alone with God the Loving Eternal One, keep up a silent prayer, "Open Thou my life. Guide my thoughts where I dare not let them go. But Thou darest. Thy will be done." Walk on the streets and chat with your friends. But every moment behind the scenes be in prayer, offering yourselves in continuous obedience. I find this internal continuous prayer life absolutely essential. It can be carried on day and night, in the thick of business, in home and school. Such prayer of submission can be so simple. It is well to use a single sentence, repeated over and over and over again, such as this: "Be Thou my will. Be Thou my will," or "I open all before Thee. I open all before Thee," or "See earth through heaven, See earth through heaven." This hidden prayer life can pass, in time, beyond words and phrases into mere ejaculations, "My God, my God, my Holy One, my Love," or into the adoration of the Upanishad, "O Wonderful, O Wonderful, O Wonderful." Words may cease and one stands and walks and sits and lies in wordless attitudes of adoration and submission and rejoicing and exultation and glory.
-Thomas R. Kelly
A Testament of Devotion
Lord, teach me to live in absolute obedience, submission and sacrifice. May I be always ready to do your will, to give all I have for the sake of your will, whatever the cost. I sacrifice my own will to yours. I desire you above all else.
2 Samuel 24:18-25
On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad.
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”
Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Reflection:
Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain of mustard seed. Begin where you are. Live this present moment, this present hour as you now sit in your seats, in utter, utter submission and openness toward Him. Listen outwardly to these words, but within, behind the scenes, in the deeper levels of your lives where you are all alone with God the Loving Eternal One, keep up a silent prayer, "Open Thou my life. Guide my thoughts where I dare not let them go. But Thou darest. Thy will be done." Walk on the streets and chat with your friends. But every moment behind the scenes be in prayer, offering yourselves in continuous obedience. I find this internal continuous prayer life absolutely essential. It can be carried on day and night, in the thick of business, in home and school. Such prayer of submission can be so simple. It is well to use a single sentence, repeated over and over and over again, such as this: "Be Thou my will. Be Thou my will," or "I open all before Thee. I open all before Thee," or "See earth through heaven, See earth through heaven." This hidden prayer life can pass, in time, beyond words and phrases into mere ejaculations, "My God, my God, my Holy One, my Love," or into the adoration of the Upanishad, "O Wonderful, O Wonderful, O Wonderful." Words may cease and one stands and walks and sits and lies in wordless attitudes of adoration and submission and rejoicing and exultation and glory.
-Thomas R. Kelly
A Testament of Devotion
Thursday 2/18
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, ,
as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way” —
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection:
The Litany of the Holy Spirit
Lord, have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Father all powerful, Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, Save us.
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless Life of both, Sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, Hear us.
Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Enter our hearts.
Holy Spirit, Who is equal to the Father and the Son, Enter our hearts.
Promise of God the Father, Have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, Have mercy on us.
Author of all good, Have mercy on us.
Source of heavenly water, Have mercy on us.
Consuming Fire, Have mercy on us.
Ardent Charity, Have mercy on us.
Spiritual Unction, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of love and truth, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of grace and prayer, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of peace and meekness, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of modesty and innocence, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, Who governs the Church, Have mercy on us.
Gift of God the Most High, Have mercy on us.
Spirit Who fills the universe, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, Inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, Come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, Shed Your Light into our souls.
Holy Spirit, Engrave Your law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, Inflame us with the flame of Your love.
Holy Spirit, Open to us the treasures of Your graces.
Holy Spirit, Teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, Enlighten us with Your heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, Lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, Grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, Inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, Grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, Make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, Be our everlasting reward.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Send us Yout Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Your faithful, And enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, ,
as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way” —
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection:
The Litany of the Holy Spirit
Lord, have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Father all powerful, Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, Save us.
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless Life of both, Sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, Hear us.
Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, Enter our hearts.
Holy Spirit, Who is equal to the Father and the Son, Enter our hearts.
Promise of God the Father, Have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, Have mercy on us.
Author of all good, Have mercy on us.
Source of heavenly water, Have mercy on us.
Consuming Fire, Have mercy on us.
Ardent Charity, Have mercy on us.
Spiritual Unction, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of love and truth, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of grace and prayer, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of peace and meekness, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of modesty and innocence, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, Who governs the Church, Have mercy on us.
Gift of God the Most High, Have mercy on us.
Spirit Who fills the universe, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, Inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, Come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, Shed Your Light into our souls.
Holy Spirit, Engrave Your law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, Inflame us with the flame of Your love.
Holy Spirit, Open to us the treasures of Your graces.
Holy Spirit, Teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, Enlighten us with Your heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, Lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, Grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, Inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, Grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, Make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, Be our everlasting reward.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Send us Yout Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Your faithful, And enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
2/18/10
Ash Wednesday 2/17
Mark 8:31-38
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?
If any of you are ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Reflection:
“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself.” The disciple must say to himself the same words Peter said of Christ when he denied him: “I know not this man.” Self-denial is never just a series of isolated acts of mortification or asceticism. It is not suicide, for there is an element of self-will even in that. To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self-denial can say is: “He leads the way, keep close to him.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship
Prayer:
Lord, teach me the way of discipleship. Refine my heart. Help me to walk with you in every difficulty and find my joy in you. Teach me to let go of myself and live in freedom with you. I ask these things that I may be more truly your child, more fully your servant – that I may share your love more evidently with those around me. Bless this Lenten season. Teach me, grow me, re-create me. Amen.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?
If any of you are ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Reflection:
“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself.” The disciple must say to himself the same words Peter said of Christ when he denied him: “I know not this man.” Self-denial is never just a series of isolated acts of mortification or asceticism. It is not suicide, for there is an element of self-will even in that. To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self-denial can say is: “He leads the way, keep close to him.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship
Prayer:
Lord, teach me the way of discipleship. Refine my heart. Help me to walk with you in every difficulty and find my joy in you. Teach me to let go of myself and live in freedom with you. I ask these things that I may be more truly your child, more fully your servant – that I may share your love more evidently with those around me. Bless this Lenten season. Teach me, grow me, re-create me. Amen.
2/15/10
What Is Lent?
Purity of heart is to will one thing. –Soren Kierkegaard
I remember my first experience of Lent being one of absolute mystery. It was Ash Wednesday and I was at an everyday, Evangelical, Protestant church, feeling entirely within my comfort zone. But I soon became very uncomfortable as the pastor called us all forward to receive the “Imposition of Ashes.” I followed the crowd toward the front where five or so people stood holding small bowls of ashes. When it was my turn, a young woman dipped her finger into the ashes and made the mark of the cross on my forehead, saying, “From the dust you have come, to the dust you will return. Repent and believe the good news.” – a strange experience to say the least.
Lent can be jarring, confusing, even very uncomfortable for those who are not familiar with it, or who have seen it misused. But since that first experience on Ash Wednesday, I have found Lent to be an incredible journey of purification and redemption. It is a refining, refocusing journey with Jesus toward the cross. During lent we seek out the things in our lives that distract us from attending to God, the things that contaminate our purity of heart. We confess, repent, and return with humility and love toward God. During Lent, we purify our hearts and teach them to seek only after God.
The season of Lent is a practice shared by Christians for centuries. Since officially established in 325AD, more Christians have participated in this season of repentance than not. Even today, more Christians throughout the world (Protestant and Roman Catholic) join in the practice of Lent than not, and many find it a central part of their spiritual journey.
Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Palm Sunday (the start of Holy Week.) We set aside these 40 days in our year to let God renew us and strengthen our love for him. We ask God to point out our sinfulness and work in our brokenness to make us pure reflections of his will. It is a season of death-to-self, when we deny ourselves, pick up our cross and find freedom in Christ. It is a season of creating space in our all too noisy lives where we may hear from God and find deeper fellowship with his Spirit.
Often Lent involves fasting. However, far from being a spiritual excuse for dieting, Lenten fasting is a practice of giving up distractions, or things we take for granted, in favor of turning our attention toward God. It looks different for each person. One may give up meat, another sweets, another movies, another coffee. I, for one, have found that fasting from technology rather than food has worked best for me. The question is, “Why are you fasting?” If you give up buying coffee, what will you do with that money? If you give up T.V., what will you do with that extra time? Seek the Lord, he will tell you if and what you should fast.
This blog contains a daily mixture of scripture, reflections, prayers and practices to help us take this journey together. It will continue through Holy Week to Easter Sunday. Now, if you are like me, you will often forget or be too busy to do the daily reading. Don’t worry about it. Don’t try to make up lost time, just start again where you are.
I hope you will join me, and Christians throughout ages and the world as we take this journey of purification together. May the Lord bless you as you seek after him.
-Ben T.
I remember my first experience of Lent being one of absolute mystery. It was Ash Wednesday and I was at an everyday, Evangelical, Protestant church, feeling entirely within my comfort zone. But I soon became very uncomfortable as the pastor called us all forward to receive the “Imposition of Ashes.” I followed the crowd toward the front where five or so people stood holding small bowls of ashes. When it was my turn, a young woman dipped her finger into the ashes and made the mark of the cross on my forehead, saying, “From the dust you have come, to the dust you will return. Repent and believe the good news.” – a strange experience to say the least.
Lent can be jarring, confusing, even very uncomfortable for those who are not familiar with it, or who have seen it misused. But since that first experience on Ash Wednesday, I have found Lent to be an incredible journey of purification and redemption. It is a refining, refocusing journey with Jesus toward the cross. During lent we seek out the things in our lives that distract us from attending to God, the things that contaminate our purity of heart. We confess, repent, and return with humility and love toward God. During Lent, we purify our hearts and teach them to seek only after God.
The season of Lent is a practice shared by Christians for centuries. Since officially established in 325AD, more Christians have participated in this season of repentance than not. Even today, more Christians throughout the world (Protestant and Roman Catholic) join in the practice of Lent than not, and many find it a central part of their spiritual journey.
Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Palm Sunday (the start of Holy Week.) We set aside these 40 days in our year to let God renew us and strengthen our love for him. We ask God to point out our sinfulness and work in our brokenness to make us pure reflections of his will. It is a season of death-to-self, when we deny ourselves, pick up our cross and find freedom in Christ. It is a season of creating space in our all too noisy lives where we may hear from God and find deeper fellowship with his Spirit.
Often Lent involves fasting. However, far from being a spiritual excuse for dieting, Lenten fasting is a practice of giving up distractions, or things we take for granted, in favor of turning our attention toward God. It looks different for each person. One may give up meat, another sweets, another movies, another coffee. I, for one, have found that fasting from technology rather than food has worked best for me. The question is, “Why are you fasting?” If you give up buying coffee, what will you do with that money? If you give up T.V., what will you do with that extra time? Seek the Lord, he will tell you if and what you should fast.
This blog contains a daily mixture of scripture, reflections, prayers and practices to help us take this journey together. It will continue through Holy Week to Easter Sunday. Now, if you are like me, you will often forget or be too busy to do the daily reading. Don’t worry about it. Don’t try to make up lost time, just start again where you are.
I hope you will join me, and Christians throughout ages and the world as we take this journey of purification together. May the Lord bless you as you seek after him.
-Ben T.
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