Lent is quickly approaching. For many Lent is seen as a somber time. Many see it as a time of sacrifice, boring music and subdued tones in church. As a child, I recall Lent as being a time that we were encouraged to give something up to prove our faithfulness to God; to somehow cleanse our sinful selves so that we can achieve a state of being deserving of God’s grace. And invariably failing to last for 40 days. I recall feeling shame and unworthiness and not understanding how God could possibly still love me when I couldn’t even do this one thing for a mere 40 days. And Lent became a time associated with guilt and shame. But as my faith matured over the years my understanding and relationship with God changed. And my Lenten focus changed. Instead of focusing on what I can live without for 40 days Lent has become a time to reconnect with God; to break down those barriers that stand between me and fully experiencing God’s grace. The things that need to be given up are those very things that put a barrier between us and God. Those things that we engage in that are for our own fulfillment, our own glory, and keep ourselves as the focus of our lives. Most certainly, it is a time to be penitent, but not in order to earn God’s love and grace. We already have that. Those very things for which penance is called for are the very things that keep us separated from God. And I think that is what Lent is about. Is that time where we can spend 40 days in our own wilderness exploring what barriers we use to keep God at arm’s length. It is a time to explore how we might live our lives more like Christ. A time to be awakened to the knowledge that God’s grace and love is not dependent on anything that we do, but our experience of God’s grace is only thing dependent upon our opening our hearts, our minds and souls to Him. It is a time to be in active communication with God to discern His will for us in our lives; a time to be reminded of whom we are to God. So, whatever your personal Lenten practice may be, with open heart, break down those barriers that separate you from God’s redeeming love and grace and invite Him into your life.
Lord, thank you. Thank you for loving us even when we don’t deserve it. Thank you for being patient with our missteps and wrong turns. Guide us this Lenten season to a deeper and more meaningful and fuller relationship with you. For it is in this relationship that we can discern your will and act accordingly.
