Why We Will Observe Lent

Psalm 51:1 We have daily devotionals for our families to use during Lent this year. Each day's reading contains an excerpt from the writings of Henri J. M. Nouwen. In the very first one, for Ash Wednesday this week, Nouwen directs us to make Lent a time for breaking down the idol of guilt. That thought provokes me. Lent began as a time of preparation for baptism. As the Church matured and generations of Christians worshiped together, older members began to re-enter the time of reflection and fasting that those just coming to faith walked through. Together the Church celebrated the blessing that God did not abandon us in our sin but came to live among us and redeem us. During Lent those new believers exchanged their idols for the Living God. For Greek's Aphrodite fell and for Jews the Temple tumbled. But 21st Century Christians have idols too. Sadly, some of us do worship wealth or power or pleasure. But isn't it true that some of us pay grudging homage to our guilty consciences. We keep "going to church" because we owe it to God or our parents. We hold back from relationships with other believers because we don't feel spiritual enough. We sit in worship or try to pray at home and wonder why we can't connect with God. All because, we have never found a way to get past our guilt. During Lent we can tear down this obstacle. Lent is not about self-deprecation and focus on sin. It creates space and time in our lives to search out and destroy anything that stands between us and God. Sure, we should do this year round. Lent offers a chance to spend a season doing it together as a community of faith.