THE WAY OF THE CROSS
It may be too soon but maybe there is a hint of Spring in the air. The days are getting longer as we have more hours of the sun. Spiritually, Spring’s arrival means Lent will begin before too long. Fat Tuesday is a day of feasting, lot’s of fun and a final fling. As we eat, drink and be merry today, keep in mind, there is more to life. At the stroke of Midnight on Ash Wednesday is the sober arrival of the long church season of Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. For the next 40 days, we follow Jesus’ way to the cross. He goes there for us. By faith given us by the Holy Spirit, we focus on prayer, repentance and charity to others. The ashes, made from the previous year’s Palm Sunday palm leaves are applied on the forehead of repentant Christians in the shape of a cross. The ashes symbolize grief and remorse. The cross serves as a tangible reminder of our mortality and sinfulness. If ashes are applied while kneeling, this posture expresses humility before God. ”Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” is often said. Our spirits return to God. We are privileged to confess our sins. We receive not our Father’s malice but His mercy and not His condemnation but His forgiveness.
Lent is a season of prayer, reflection and repentance leading up to Easter. It symbolizes Jesus’ 40 days of fasting, praying and temptation in the wilderness. Lent is a time to reflect on Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. Lent this year begins Ash Wednesday Feb.18 and ends on Maundy Thursday. Apr. 2. Maundy Thursday is the day Jesus shared His last meal with His disciples before His crucifixion. The early church thought Lent was an appropriate time for Baptism because of the relationship between Christ’s death and resurrection. Lent serves not only as a time to meditate on the suffering Christ endured on our behalf but also to reflect on our own Baptism as a child of God. The church prepares for the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection.
It assumes a prayer filled character. The vocal and instrumental music is subdued and reflective. The color purple adorns the church as it is the ”quietest” used throughout the year. Purple has become to represent solemnity, penitence, and prayer.
Each of the church seasons are observed and honored, but Lent is ”kept”. This emphasizes keeping Lent holy. The holy season of Lent invites us to be ”keepers” who keep the focus on Jesus. Giving up something for Lent is supposed to connect us with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness in fasting and in prayer. For Christians, to ”Keep the Fast” is to follow Jesus’ agony on the cross to pay for the world’s sins. How do we ”Keep the Focus”? If you are struggling, not feeling good enough or righteous enough, you should know God is with you and cares for you. He invites us all, the good, the bad and the ugly. Lent is a quiet time to learn wisdom, confess our sins and grow close to God. ”Be still and know I am God” (Ps.46:10) Find that quiet space, pray and talk to God.. Ask God to make Himself real to you and experience His profound love. In the silence, open your Bible, listen and reflect on God’s words. meditate on His truths. Lent is the time we pray for the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power to fill our hearts and homes with the grace and peace that belong to the children of God. As we observe Lenten discipline, keep the fast, keep the silence and keep the focus, we learn more of our Lord and His loving plan to redeem a world in desperate need of salvation.
The Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten and Daily Devotions are priceless. Lenten Devotions and Daily Devotions make wonderful pass-a-longs to someone in need of some good news. You can email a message to a friend or print out a few to pass around at church or Bible study. Set aside a convenient time, it doesn’t have to be a lot of time, each day to read and pray. LHM devotions are perfect for personal reflection and to share with family, friends and congregations. Enjoying The Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Seasonal and Daily Devotions is easy.
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