Lent-y

Excerpt from Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted…

Lent is a season that lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays). Lent, patterned to some degree after Jesus’ journey in the wilderness, has us following in Jesus' way of facing how we understand needs over wants, power over servant hood, and self-reliance over God-reliance. All hard questions into themselves…

As we recall Jesus’ wilderness temptations, we find ourselves walking with Jesus through thick and thin, through weariness and hunger of body and spirit. Though we know the final outcome of Easter, we better understand the significance of the cross and its life altering ways because we stayed with Jesus as he journeyed through it all. The invitation to us, in this season, is to reflect on how our lives are affected by our belief, trust, and faith in Jesus Christ.

In Lent, we are invited to repent, reconcile, and return to God in all things. We are gently invited to recognize the times we have forgotten or grown numb to God’s call on our lives. It takes us taking a step back and looking honestly at our own lives and recognizing the temptations that we have succumbed to. It is not easy, it is not fun, it’s definitely not glamorous, but it is life changing. As with much of life, the things that we long to be changed within us, even spiritually, must first be recognized, named, and then diligently worked on with the help of God.

In this season of Lent, we are going to be paying attention to two words: fast and feast. We will be paying special attention to our inner lives, our spiritual selves and asking ourselves what things in my life do I long to fast from (those things that are life draining) and what things might it be good for me to feast on (those things that bring abundant life for all)?