The big deal is preparation. Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ prepare their souls, through prayer, repentance, works indicating repentance, giving and self-denial for the celebration of Holy Week, the week marking the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ God's Son.
Lent is about moving from death to life. Ash Wednesday reminds us the Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. But man rebells against God. Responding to mans defiance the Lord states, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”
Left in this state man is without hope. But the Lord God plants a seed of salvation. A way of deliverance from death. That deliverance is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him.
Holy week recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During Lent, many commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence. But is this really fasting or repentance? Maybe, but I hope to move beyond the superficial towards the transcendent.
The challenge of Lent is to seek, ask and knock. The challenge is to pray, repent and give.
I challenge you to participate in something different this year. Prepare your soul to celebrate Jesus Christ.
My sister is a Benedictine Nun so I have chosen to spend time in a book called "Pilgrim Road: A Benedictine Journey through Lent".
If you want something simple visit www.youversion.com and explore their reading plans at www.youversion.com/reading-plans/category/topical/lent_and_easter
What ever plans you have or are to make spend your time wisely. Jesus tells you to, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Enjoy the journey.
