Lent

The season of Lent is a classic time for self-examination within the church’s year.

Based on the story of Jesus’ extended period of temptation in the desert, the image is one of retreat from our everyday preoccupations to take stock of the direction of our lives (Janet Morley, Bread of Tomorrow, p. 61).

But our faith has never just been about personal piety and individual lives. It has always been about God’s realm and that means justice not just us. So what if we understand Lent to be:

an opportunity to explore what is the nature of the promised Kingdom of God on earth that we long for; and to try and discern, amid various tempting strategies, how we are called to work for it (Bread of Tomorrow, p. 61).

Then we will be “contemplatives” not as “a retreat from the desperately disturbing challenges of the world into some private piety” but as an entry into God’s mission seeking to “see the world as it is”; acknowledge our part in “what is continuingly evil”; and enact the hope to which we are called through Jesus (BoT, p. 61)

May it come soon
to the hungry
to the weeping
to those who thirst for your justice,
to those who are waited centuries
for a truly human life.
Grant us the patience
to smooth the way
on which your Kingdom comes to us.
Grant us hope,
that we may not weary
in proclaiming and working for it,
despite so many conflicts,
threats and shortcomings.
Grant us a clear vision
that in this hour of our history
we may see the horizon,
and know the way
on which your Kingdom comes to us.
(From Nicaragua YMCA 1989, BoT, p. 63)

Entering Lent

Uniting in Worship 2 (p. 573) reminds us that “Lent is a time of preparation for Easter”. It lasts 40 days plus Sundays. Sundays don’t count because that is the day when Christians celebrate Christ in fullness—life, death and resurrection. Lent ends at sunset (the beginning and end of the biblical day) on Easter Saturday.
In this time of preparation, we are encouraged through prayer, fasting and acts of generosity and compassion to reflect on the love of God for us.

Lent Event focuses that reflection by asking us to “give up” something and to donate the money we save to a significant project supported by Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA). The “giving up” reminds us of what the Triune God gives up in sending, coming and being in our world in the person and work of Christ. God does all this because of God’s great love for us and desire to be in continuing relationship with us.

Perhaps you might like to include this short prayer (or collect) in your daily prayer during the season of Lent as you focus on God’s great love for the world and desire for reconciliation with the whole of creation:
Spirit God,
we pray that in this Lenten season,
by prayer, study and self-giving,
we may penetrate more deeply
into the mystery of Christ’s journey;
that, following in the way
of Christ’s cross and passion,
we may come to share
in the healing and celebration
of Christ’s resurrection
through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
for the glory of God. Amen.
This Collect is adapted from Carden, John (ed.) 1989. With All God’s People: The New Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Geneva: WCC, 29, 37-38.