I woke up this morning at 6:55 and realized there was an Ash Wednesday service at school…. at 7:15! I managed to slip and slide my way to school on time (there was freezing rain outside; lots of people fell on their way to BFA).
When my family attended a Lutheran church, we attended the Ash Wednesday services, but in most of my church-going experience, Lent was not a big deal. For some of my friends, Lent was just an excuse to go on a diet. The spiritual significance seemed to be lost in personal goals of self-improvement rather than in identifying oneself with Christ.
In the service this morning, Bo Bowen said that the Lenten season in the church calendar is like Advent and Epiphany in that we are preparing our hearts for celebration, but unlike other seasons, this one is more solemn and reflective. During these 40 days, we identify with Christ as He “set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), and we “take up our cross daily and follow Him” (Luke 9:23). Jesus’ destination was Jerusalem, where He would be crucified; our earthly end will also be death (dust you are, and to dust you will return). Yet as Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave, we participate in His resurrection – great news!
So the season of Lent gives us a reminder to intentionally do what we should be doing every day – taking up our cross and following Jesus, not grudgingly, but with the hope and peace of the Sunrise from on high.
