Advent and Lent are times of preparation. In Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord. In Lent we prepare to remember and to celebrate the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord. In these times of preparation we may take on new disciplines, new ways of reflecting and focusing on God's work to us and God's intentions for our lives as addressed by Christ's coming into our world.
Lent has often been seen as a time for disciplined "giving up" of something that is important to us. It is assumed that such sacrifice will make us more cognizant of Christ in our lives and will help us focus more clearly on His role in our lives. Such may be the case for some persons. But, as is stated in the Handbook of the Christian Year, "Lent is not giving up something but rather taking upon ourselves the intention and the receptivity to God's grace so that we may worthily participate in the mystery of God-with-us."
In the early church the season of Lent was the time to prepare Christian converts for baptism, which was celebrated at the Easter Vigil, beginning the night before Easter and continuing until sunrise, when the leader would shout "Christ is risen!" and All would reply, "He is risen indeed!'
Lent can be for us a time of preparation as well, whether we be new converts or long-time Christian believers. May Christ be at work in all of our lives this Lenten season.
Holy God, you come into our lives in so many different ways-sometimes when we are aware of your Spirit; sometimes when you work unnoticed. Help us to focus on you and your Son, to sense ways in which your love is enriching us and ways you are challenging us to follow you more fully. Speak to us through these days of Lenten discipline that we may recognize your love at work in our lives. Through Christ we pray. Amen.
This was written by Reverend Dan Hudson [Emeritus]
for St. Mark Presbyterian Lenten Devotional 2002
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