Reflections on Lent 2022

April 18, 2022

It feels to me that Lent gets harder every year. Maybe it’s my age. But maybe it’s because I know so much more now than I have previously. Through Morning and Evening Prayer, Bible study, the odd article or video here and there, and inward meditation, Lent involves me more each year.

It used to about ‘giving up stuff’. But that’s just evidence of an immature understanding of Lent and its intent. Then, it became about ‘taking things on’ – as in developing a Bible reading schedule throughout Lent. This is never a bad idea – ever – but there is not much in all the whole of the Bible directed toward Lent except for New Testament chapters that discuss the Passion and Crucifixion. After all the Lents we’ve lived through, one begins to feel as if all the marrow has been sucked out of those bones.

The hardest part of Lent now is not abstinence or additional ‘burden’ but about me and my relationship with God and how the work of Jesus on the Cross has changed me. We tend to get a little comfortable with ourselves; on a scale of 1 to 10 – 10 being sainthood (laughing) – we might consider ourselves a 5 or a 6. Possibly a 7 but humility will prevent us from going any higher in scale.

I’ve found that I’m a 1. This became blatantly obvious to me when I lost my temper on Good Friday. It was an instant in time – looking back on it, it was reminiscent of St. Peter denying Christ for the third time and hearing the cock crow. I had that shock of self-awareness, dismay, disappointment in myself. And I, too, cried bitterly. I begged God to forgive me. All the things I know, all the things I’ve been taught, all the self-reflection during Lent did not prevent me from losing my temper. We are to grow, become stronger, get closer to God. I was right back at the beginning – “Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200” (Monopoly reference)

And so, here we are at the day after Easter. What am I to do now? All I can do is continue to beg for forgiveness and to strive, in all ways possible, to be the person I am called to be by my Savior.

And so it begins. Through man, it is not possible; with God, all things are possible. To which I say, Amen.

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