Pastor’s Corner: Are You Ready?

February 8, 2023

As you read this, the first day of Lent is just two weeks away. Are you ready?

Of course not. Lent is a season of preparation, not the end of the journey itself. Don’t worry about getting ready for Lent. Use Lent to get ready for Easter.

Easter is a festival. It’s a celebration. It’s a day (a season, actually) of profound joy. What gets your soul ready to rejoice?

For centuries, Christians have focused their soul-preparation on sin and repentance. It is very hard to celebrate with an awareness of guilt. It drags one down. A soul freed through repentance and forgiveness is one prepared to rejoice.

There are other burdens, however, that keep us from celebration, aren’t there? How do we rejoice from the depths of sorrow? How do we sing hosannahs when we are bone-weary? And… what will heal us from these distresses so that we can freely offer our praise?

That is our challenge for this Lent, friends: to find one thing that will lighten our souls – just a little – so that we can rejoice more freely in Easter. To find one thing that reduces the apparent distance between us and God. For some that might be the traditional technique of giving up some practice during Lent, or of setting aside something that has been troublesome. For others that might be to seek comfort for the sorrow or sources of strength for the weariness. That might mean conscious conversation with loved ones or making space to rest, or creating something that, accomplished, lightens the heart.

Don’t worry about being ready for Lent, friends.

Let Lent help you be ready for Easter.

Blessings to you,

Pastor Eric