Lent Week 1

Psalm: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Epistle: Romans 10:8b-13

The Lenten season starts today in case you are unaware or your church is not mentioning it. Lent is a time when we reflect both on who God is, as well as who we are in relation to him. During Lent we reflect both on the Original Sin that plagues all of creation as well as our own personal sins. It is for this reason that on Ash Wednesday we read the cry of Psalm 51:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

 For I know my transgressions,

And my sin is ever before me.

 Against You, You only, I have sinned

And done what is evil in Your sight,

So that You are justified when You speak

And blameless when You judge. (1-4)

It's not difficult to look around and see that sin has a grip on our lives: war, famine, disease, natural disasters, drugs, death, etc. We can't escape this reality and Lent allows us to broach these topics and accept that they exist and they are horrible. But Lent also always points us to Easter and the fact that sin doesn't have the final say. The present reality isn't the end of the story, because in the end, even death is defeated in Christ.

But as I said, Lent is more than just reflecting on the sin that engrosses all of creation. It is also a time when we must confront the sin that lives in each one of us. "Against you only have I sinned," the Psalmist declares. And indeed that is the place we all must find ourselves at some point. We are entirely lost and unable to be saved apart from the grace and sacrifice offered through Christ. And so Lent invites us to recognize the sin and death in our own lives, but at the same time it also draws us into the great love extended to us by God.

During this Lenten season, whether you are fasting or not, whether your church is recognizing Lent in the service or not, take some time to reflect on the great need we, and indeed all of creation, have for the saving grace of God. Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts and recognize the depth of our depravity so that when Easter finally arrives we are fully able to appreciate all that it means.

Well, I guess I failed to discus the scriptures this week. Of course the Gospel reading tells of Jesus' 40 day fast in the wilderness at the start of his earthly ministry. This passage in particular reminds me that even Jesus fasted! So I definitely shouldn't think it is not a needed discipline in my life. I hope we all take these 40 days in Lent as an opportunity to grow closer to God and to learn more about ourselves as we move toward Easter and the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Grace and peace.