Today marks the beginning of the forty day season of Lent. Modeled after the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert tempted by Satan, Lent has historically been a time for Christians to shape up spiritually, confess their sins, and get right with God and their neighbors. Lent is also a time of getting ready, ready to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lent is a time to push away distractions (there will be plenty of them!) and give some attention to our souls, to our spirits, and to our God (learn more about Lent from the Archbishop of Canterbury by clicking here).
I think for many Christians the first stumbling block to a meaningful Lent is a lack of planning. If you haven’t already, today is a great day to sit down prayerfully with your spouse, a friend, or on your own and think about how you will observe Lent. A simple plan can be the channel through which God grows your faith this Lenten season.
What is your plan for Lent this year?
Br. Gordon James is doing a few things for Lent.
ReplyDelete1. 40 Days Living The Jesus Creed. To become better at greeting and encouraging others. 'Loving others' is the difficult part of this for me.
2. Entering my journals (for my Editor) into my computer. This will also act as 'recollection' of my spiritual life and formation over the past five years.
3. Meditate on Rom. 12:2 in hopes that I can begin to see myself as God sees me (true self) and not (false self) as I see me.
That is my plan Br. Kevin.
Brother Gordon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these thoughts. What exactly is the Jesus Creed?
Jesus' take on the Shema when asked which of the commandments is the greatest. Rite I 'Hear what Our Lord Jesus Christ saith....' A Book(s) by Scot McKnight. A good read.
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