A Lenten Reflection

Lent. Fasting. Remembrance of hard times. Acknowledgement of weakness. A sitting with pain. 




Attentiveness to mortality, echoing: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Lent reminds us even God was tested, starving in the desert, like our father Moses and his fearful people. And so we expect this dark season of testing, in our yearly calendar but also in our lives.




We expect and acknowledge the darkness.
Jesus’ excruciating isolation in the desert, like the Israelites’ before him, had the paradoxical effect of fortifying his spirit against the things that would destroy it.




If we pay attention, we may learn that times of testing – fasting – darkness – isolation – 
strengthen our spirits for the journey ahead.




The paradox of fasting.
The paradox of Lent.
A paradox of our faith.




During Lent, we do not temporarily abstain from evil, but renew our commitment to wholly reject it.
We do not put aside distractions to focus on God, but use distractions as a way in to God. 
(Read Matthew 4:1-11)
We do not baptize our New Years Resolutions and give them a second go,
but stare in the face of our imperfections and repent.




This is a time for repentance.
Easter Sunday is coming, the ultimate absolution.
Repent, and soon Easter will assure you:
you have been forgiven.

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