March 21, 2019
Several years ago, the marvelous prayer resource site run by Irish Jesuits called"Sacred Space" asked one of the best questions about the season of Lent that I've ever seen. Today, I want to share it with you and invite you to take a few minutes to ponder it: "When the 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are over, how will I know if I have had a 'good' Lent? "What would make it a 'success'? "If I keep the resolution to pray faithfully every day, that would be good. If I choose to give up something that I like as a sacrifice and don't slip up even once, that would be very good. "But would it necessarily be a 'successful' Lent? Lent will be a success if, by the end of it, I recognize a little more deeply that I am utterly dependent on God. That realization can be born out of my 'failures' just as much as my 'successes'. [Lent] invites me daily to depend entirely on the care of a loving God." Put another way, season of Lent invites us to consider what true humility is. True humility is NOT "thinking less of yourself." True humility is "thinking of yourself, less" -- moving from being you-centric to being God-centric and other-centric. Are your Lenten disciplines (see Adult Forum*** topic below) helping you do that? See you Sunday,
John
p.s. If for whatever reason this Sunday is going to be your first Sunday in church since the season of Lent began, or if you just want a refresher on what changes to expect for Lent, read this e-news message: "The season of Lent brings changes."