Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Lent...

Do you get excited when the calendar rolls around to Ash Wednesday the way you do the first Sunday of Advent? Is there the anticipation of the 40 days that we are called to penitence, sacrifice, contemplation that there is while we await the birth of the Christ child?

Between the two, if you had to make a choice, would it be Advent or Lent? I suspect an overwhelming majority would say Advent...after all, what is more fun in the church year than the anticipation of Christmas? That being said, which do we need more? Advent or Lent?

Have you ever stopped to think that Advent is a celebration but Lent is a gift God gives to show us the Meaning of Life...God Himself? Perhaps we are meant to take our eyes off all the distractions of our lives and focus on the One who brought us Salvation through the cross. He calls us to look with an open heart and clear eyes so as to remember that we are His children. We are the ones He loves...we are His treasures. Not because of any great thing we have done, but because in His eyes we have value, we are worthy of His Love (even though it so very hard for us to believe).

During the season of Lent, God prepares us to once again behold His mighty love through the actions of His Son and our Brother, Jesus Christ. This is not a gift one can receive without preparation...Lent is our time to get ready.

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