Lent is not about what we give up — but about who gave himself.
If you’re like me, you were probably raised to see the Lenten season as a time of sacrifice. Generally speaking, many Christians view Lent as a time to fast — to give up something special for the Lord because of His sacrifice for us. He gave up His life, so we were taught to give up something we love for Him. Chocolate was my regular Lenten sacrifice in my youth. I couldn’t wait to get that Easter basket on Sunday morning and have my fill. Forty days is a long time for a kid to go without chocolate. I thought I was doing something good for God.
When I was a child, I thought like a child and lived like a child. Now that I’m older, I know better. Lent isn’t about our sacrifice. Lent is about the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world. During the season of Lent, God’s Word reminds us of our Lord’s temptation in the wilderness and the path He walked to the cross for us. It culminates in His death and prepares us to celebrate the resurrection with glad hearts and a joyful faith.
No sacrifice we offer can ever match or add to what Jesus has done for us. The Lenten fast is not meant to be about our sacrifice. Lent is a season of repentance. Repentance is marked by fasting — not to earn something before God, but to discipline the body. “For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:41.
This is why we fast during Lent. Many aspects of our lives overflow our hearts and minds, keeping Christ from increasing within us. We fast from these things to deny the desires of the body and feed the needs of the soul. We fast from food so that when temptation comes, we are not given over to our bodily desires. We fast from technology so that when temptation comes, our eyes and ears do not mislead us. We fast from the comforts of this life so that when the poor, hungry, or oppressed cross our path, we are not holding back the love of God from our neighbor because we are worried about our daily half-caf latte from Starbucks. We fast for a purpose: to put our repentance into action, so that our faith in Christ may be expressed through our love for our neighbor. Such fasting trains the body to follow the Word of God so that Jesus may increase and we may decrease.
This Lenten season, let your eyes behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Worship the Lord. Join us for chapel. Study with us the promises of our God and Savior. Be mindful of your repentance. Do not be afraid to deny yourself and take up the cross to follow Christ. Let your fast be purposeful. Let your ears be open to His Word. Let your discipline be intentional. Let your heart be fixed on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Lent isn’t about your sacrifice. Lent is about the sacrifice of Jesus for you and readies your heart to celebrate with joy the great Paschal feast. Then the bridegroom shall be risen, and the wedding feast commence.
Soli Deo Gloria
Written by Rev. Dr. E. Anthony Sikora
The Imposition of Ashes will be observed on Ash Wednesday during the regularly scheduled chapel time at 10:30 a.m.
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