Lent

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        On the 2nd of February the church commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. With this commemoration the 50 day cycle of Christmas comes to an end. 12 days on and we move into the season of Lent. From Christmas immediately into Lent while to many may not make sense, the period of Lent receives meaning in the coming of the Messiah. The purpose of God sending his only begotten son Jesus into this world gains momentum with the season of Lent.
                Lent is a time for reflection, penitence and restoration. We have a period of forty days for reflection. What are we supposed to reflect on? None other than our faith journey with Christ, which we share with our brother and sister here on this earth.  God’s word, prayer and the constant questioning of our conscience in the light of the scriptures help us to reflect on this journey. Christ is always faithful, he never lets us down in our journey, but it is we who do so. So it is only right for us to reflect on our relationship with Christ as well as with one another.
                Our reflection should lead to penitence. Penitence should be a quality in Christian living. This quality will be evoked by a variety of experiences. The most immediate will be the heart-stabbing pain of confronting our own responsibility for causing suffering, fear and alienation. But Isaiah’s vision (Is 6:5) reminds us that penitence is also a response to the vision of the Majesty of God. So Lent becomes a time for us to lift up our eyes focus on the cross and beyond towards the Majesty of a gloriously reigning Christ.
                However penitence is not an instrument of destruction. It is not one to make us guilty. But it helps us if we are conscious and humble enough to accept our failure to lift us from where we are restoring us to the fellowship with the Master. For that it is important that we allow Jesus to minister to us. Only he can lift our burdens and give us rest (Mat 11:28). It is that restoration as was to the robber on the cross and the centurion on the ground, which leads us to celebrate and live in the joys of Easter.
                As you enter into another season of Lent, may it be for you a meaningful time of quiet sitting at the feet of the Master.

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