So here we are in another season of Lent. The time of the church calendar to dust the dirty rags and sackcloth out of the back of the closet, and make a nice ash fedora on our heads. Of all the liturgical seasons we “celebrate”, Lent seems the most detached from the society in which we live. Like a fall-back to the time when all good believers were supposed to feel like wiggly worms, hunched over in our wretchedness and foul, sin-soaked unworthiness. I had a nice thought, where are my thumbscrews?!?
After all, we’re sons of Adam and daughters of Eve (to borrow the terms from C.S. Lewis in his Narnia chronicles), and under the curse of sin. From the dust we were created, and to the dust we will return. Cue the funeral dirge.
And so it is in this mournful sense that many of us shuffle into Lent, giving up parts of our everyday life – chocolate, television, winning (well, if you’re a member of the Canadiens) – as a reminder of … what? What is it that our self-denials bring to our mind? The better question is: What should our Lenten promises be a reminder of?
God isn’t a spoilsport or a sadist. Jesus said that He came so we could have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). However, Jesus wasn’t talking about more, He was talking about better. Life to the fullest is a life spent deepening our love relationship with God, and along the way, being better able to love our neighbour as ourselves. The rest is just noise. It is from this that we are called to give up, thereby opening ourselves up to the better offering that God has for us.
This form of giving up is also a matter of giving in; giving in to the One who knows what abundant life is all about. Lent is a time to take the binoculars off ourselves and look upwards, saying to God, “Your will be done.” Sounding a lot tougher than 40 days without ice cream? In the immortal words of Sarah Palin: You betcha!
Finally, I suggest a third “give” to our Lenten journey: giving out. Make a special effort to reach others on God’s behalf. Give selflessly and readily. Give time. Give money. Give both of your ears to someone who just wants to be heard. Remember, we are the recipients of God’s abundance: let’s share the wealth.
None of this is a recipe for a carefree 40 days. It’s not meant to be. But if we really, honestly take this time in Lent to seek out God in all our daily nooks and crannies, I’m betting the thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday and the joy in celebrating His resurrection on Easter Sunday will blow our socks off.
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