Lent: The Joyful Season?
Ash Wednesday, which is March 6th this year, marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 day period before Easter. Lent is often a somber time, with emphasis on spiritual self-examination as we prepare to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us. Traditionally Lent is a season of piety and abstinence—we may give up something we enjoy as we focus on our faith.
Ash Wednesday as observed in some churches and faith traditions includes the pastor/priest smudging ashes on people’s foreheads and saying: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.” While there is truth in that statement, if we only view ourselves from the perspective of “dust and ashes” we may become quite depressed.
In his book, Because of This I Rejoice, Max Vincent suggests that the Lenten season can be a time when we focus not just on our sin but also on God’s work in our lives. While it is appropriate for us to acknowledge our unworthiness before the God of the universe, we can include Lenten practices that lead us first to confession, but then to other disciplines that draw us closer to God.
His position is that when we take lent seriously we will focus on disciplines like additional Bible reading, focused prayer, intentional helpfulness to our neighbors. When we do these things, we will become more aware of God’s presence, and we will experience God’s grace working in and through us. Thus we will find that these practices can bring joy and fulfillment to our lives.
He asks questions like: Is Lent just a Christian self-improvement season? Is it meant to be a depressing time? Are spiritual disciplines supposed to be drudgery? Is confession nothing more than taking out our spiritual trash? He finds it ironic that our emphasis on self-denial and personal unworthiness can leave us feeling estranged from God rather than drawing us closer to God. He then asks: “What if Ash Wednesday encourages us to grow joyfully in our acknowledgment of God through spiritual disciplines?"
His book is actually a study of Philippians. He was shocked to learn that Paul uses the word joy more in this letter than in any other. Paul begins his letter joyfully, which is truly amazing considering he is writing from a prison cell. In the first chapter, third verse, Paul writes: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.” That theme of joy continues throughout his letter to the church at Philippi.
How can we make Lent a joyful season for our faith? May I suggest a careful reading of Philippians and intentional effort to use spiritual disciplines that will draw us closer to God and enable us to experience his love and grace.
Pastor Wayne
Ash Wednesday as observed in some churches and faith traditions includes the pastor/priest smudging ashes on people’s foreheads and saying: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.” While there is truth in that statement, if we only view ourselves from the perspective of “dust and ashes” we may become quite depressed.
In his book, Because of This I Rejoice, Max Vincent suggests that the Lenten season can be a time when we focus not just on our sin but also on God’s work in our lives. While it is appropriate for us to acknowledge our unworthiness before the God of the universe, we can include Lenten practices that lead us first to confession, but then to other disciplines that draw us closer to God.
His position is that when we take lent seriously we will focus on disciplines like additional Bible reading, focused prayer, intentional helpfulness to our neighbors. When we do these things, we will become more aware of God’s presence, and we will experience God’s grace working in and through us. Thus we will find that these practices can bring joy and fulfillment to our lives.
He asks questions like: Is Lent just a Christian self-improvement season? Is it meant to be a depressing time? Are spiritual disciplines supposed to be drudgery? Is confession nothing more than taking out our spiritual trash? He finds it ironic that our emphasis on self-denial and personal unworthiness can leave us feeling estranged from God rather than drawing us closer to God. He then asks: “What if Ash Wednesday encourages us to grow joyfully in our acknowledgment of God through spiritual disciplines?"
His book is actually a study of Philippians. He was shocked to learn that Paul uses the word joy more in this letter than in any other. Paul begins his letter joyfully, which is truly amazing considering he is writing from a prison cell. In the first chapter, third verse, Paul writes: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.” That theme of joy continues throughout his letter to the church at Philippi.
How can we make Lent a joyful season for our faith? May I suggest a careful reading of Philippians and intentional effort to use spiritual disciplines that will draw us closer to God and enable us to experience his love and grace.
Pastor Wayne