We begin the Lenten observance on Wednesday with our Ash Wednesday service. After almost two decades of pastoral ministry, I have to the realization that we bless our faith lives as we deepen our understanding of this season of the church year. To that end, I would like to spend some time in the coming weeks to help us better understand the opportunity Lent affords us to observe the heart of worship as we make the journey to the cross of Good Friday. Lent, from the Anglo-Saxon lencten, means spring-time. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday’s repentance and leads us to Holy Week’s bitter story and Easter’s joy. Lent is the Church’s “springtime”. Out of the darkness of sin’s winter emerges a people - a Church - reborn in their Lord’s resurrection.

Easter is the oldest Christian season. The observance of Lent first appeared between 200 and 300 A.D. Lent was a time of preparation for person being instructed in the Christian faith before their baptism. Following the model of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, new adult converts practiced Lenten penance and prayer for 40 days, waiting to receive their baptism, confirmation and first Lord’s Supper at the Easter vigil.  

Today, Lent calls us to look back on the impact of our baptism on our lives. How are we doing, we who have died to sin and come alive to new life in Christ? In repentance we ask our Lord to clear our lives of sin. Wednesday night we will place ashes on our foreheads in the form of a cross. Ashes, the Bible’s sign for humility and repentance becomes a sign to the world that God has called us back to a new and right relationship with him. Because of Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross, we belong to our heavenly Father, even if our surrounding and feelings say otherwise. Repentance is the first and necessary step for God to restore in us the joy of our salvation.  

Self-examination and self-denial are exercise for our spiritual muscles. During Lent, Christians practice giving their time, energy and possessions for others, as Christ gave himself for us. We often hear of people giving up or fasting from some indulgence throughout the Lenten season. The act of sacrifice should regularly and discreetly focus our hearts and minds on the things of God. An equally beneficial exercise during the season of Lent is the practice of adding some spiritual discipline or regular act of charity to your daily schedule throughout these 40 days of Lent. Practicing anything for 40 days can help to make that specific act a regular habit.  

My hope for us all in these next 40 days is that we would observe a holy Lent.

See You Sunday,
Tony

 Our Sermon for February 19^th

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