It is that time when all Christians remember again at the Lent season.
Unlike Advent season, there is little joy in this season. Someone wrote, “I would like to fail Lent.” You know if we failed Lent there would be no cross. There would be no grace. There would be no mercy. The word “love” would be without meaning.
Lent is a very serious time for us as a Christian. Lent gives a time to take a reality check on our lives. Where have we been going in our life? How have we been using God’s time in our life? What are the dreams for God in our life?
Lent is an altogether different time than Advent. Where in Advent we are living in expectation; in Lent we are scrutinize our lives and our commitment to God. In the Lenten season we are looking the “hooks of pain and choices of harm” that are part of our lives. Some of these “hooks” can be associated with very deep pain and suffering.
In Hebrews 4:12 – 13 “Indeed, the word of “God is living and active, sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing until divides soul from the spirit, joints from the marrow, it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.” (NRSV)
Thus in Lent, we are exposing ourselves to God — our thoughts and intentions are all before Him. We are bear naked to God. It is in Lent that we have our lives “can be cut open” and seen by God. There is no place to hide from God. In this time of reflection as we approach the cross, we know that we cannot leave anything under the rock will not be turned over.
All of our lives have those moments when we are at lost of words trying to express our feeling. There are always those constant “whys” “what’s that could have been done” or “what happen in those final days or moments of life.”
Lent is a time to struggle with suffering and pain. Though we may have some good days, I can be yanked backwards by some unexpected memory or moment. Our boat can be upset with out any oars. In those times I look to God to help me live each day now.
On Easter morning there comes the hope, as the tomb was empty. It is the love of God through Jesus that offers us mercy, grace and a future free of suffering and pain.
I do invite you to take this serious journey for Lent. Allow your life “hooks, pains, suffering” to be sliced open and in full examination. The walk with Jesus in this season is worthy of your time.
You begin reading of this Lent journey in the gospel of Matthew 21 and following chapters. It is God’s hope that we will be rejoice and know a risen Christ on Easter morning. That joy may continue to give us comfort and support in our lives.