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Beginning the Lenten Journey



Do an image search for Galatians 2:20. You will find all sorts of peaceful, flowery, and pleasant pictures with the words of this verse.  Even the one I chose to include is rather happy looking.  There is nothing pretty or pleasant about crucifixion and death.

This month we will begin our journey through Lent.  The interesting thing about the church (liturgical) calendar is that it looks like mountain peaks.  There is descent and ascent.  We like the idea of ascent.  We like the idea of happy places.  We also like to minimize and “sugar-coat” the reality of the times of descent.  Nevertheless, we must descend into those times of examination.  Lent is such a time. 

February 17th is Ash Wednesday.  What our observance of Ash Wednesday will look like is still to be determined.  However, it will not look like the last two.  There will not be a row of robed clergy.  Our sanctuary will not be filled with our neighboring churches as we come together to begin our Lenten journey.  I will miss that. 

I want to challenge us to make this journey through Lent a time of examination.  A time of examining how we must die to live.  A time when we question, what does it mean to be crucified with Christ.  A time when we ask ourselves, what would it look like if I really believed Christ lived in me.

I have been participating in an online pastor’s retreat.  I had no idea how much I needed this time of reflection and instruction.  In one of the early morning sessions, we were asked the question, what if we understood and lived as if Jesus lived in us, not just that Jesus is with us.  There is a difference.  If Jesus is in us it should transform us so that we become more and more like Him.  But we tend to act as if Jesus goes with us.  That allows us to be in control.  But if Jesus is in us, we die to flesh, we die to selfishness, we did to stubbornness – and you can fill in the blank with the word(s) that describe what you need to die to. 

As we enter this Holy Season of Lent, let us be intentional.  Let us be willing to be crucified with Christ so that when people meet us, they meet Jesus.

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