the rhythm of Epiphany to Lent

"Christ in the Wilderness", Ivan Kramskoi (1837-87)

For Sunday, February 21, 2010

First Sunday in Lent

One of the wonderful things about the Revised Common Lectionary is that it provides a rhythm for life. This week marks our transition from the Season of Epiphany to the Season of Lent. Epiphany was all about the Incarnation of Christ as framed by the Magis' visit to the baby Jesus. With Lent our focus moves from encounter to reflection. Now that we've encountered Jesus' incarnation on earth, what should it mean for our lives? The framing image for Lent is Jesus' 40 days in the Wilderness.

Entering a wilderness requires a bit of planning and sacrifice. We can't take all the creature comforts of home with us. Yet the benefit of spending time there is to reconnect with what really matters, which in turn transforms everything once we arrive back home.

'Lent' may seem a strange word. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'lencten' meaning "Spring." Some think that the church tradition of starting Lent came from the fact that winter food often ran out during this time so that a period of fasting might have often been necessary prior to when freshly-grown food would be available. However, it seems more likely that Lent was established as a means of removing distraction in preparation for the celebration of Christ's resurrection at Easter.

Some might say, "Now look, there is nothing in the Bible about Lent, so let's just drop the idea." If Lent were merely intended to be an exercise in inducing guilt, understood. Yet there is so much more here on offer. Just as Spring brings new possibilities in terms of physical growth and change so does Lent bring with it new possibilities in terms of spiritual growth and change.

Will you therefore join me on an adventure into the Wilderness of Faith these next forty days? This will be for us an opportunity to let Jesus direct the very trajectory of our lives.

Amen and Hallelujah.