Lent, a time of Transformation
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will
keep it for eternal life.
– John 12:23-25
Lent is a Time of Transformation just as spring is a time of anticipation. Winter is fading, and we look for signs of new life. After last week’s frigid temperatures, I’m looking forward to warmer days! We feel a sense of newness in the wind, that something wonderful is going on around us. Flowers begin to bloom; leaves start to bud; birds begin to sing; even the earth smells fresh again.
For gardeners, spring is a time for tilling the ground and planting seeds. Hoping for a good harvest, we watch the rhythms of sun and rain and keep an eye out for signs of growth. We stand in awe of the mystery of God’s creation as we ponder the relationship between soil, sun, seeds, and water as they produce new life. The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word lencten, which means to lengthen, referring to the lengthening of days in the spring. Like its counterpart in the natural world, Lent is a time of tilling the soil of our hearts, planting seeds of faith and love, and watching eagerly for the fruit of our efforts at Easter.
The forty days of Lent recall Moses’ forty days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18), Elijah’s forty days in the desert (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). God invites us during this season of Lent to reflect on our lives, both individually and together as his people. Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were especially close to God during their forty days of reflection and prayer. We too can experience the Lord’s love more deeply as we draw close to him through devotion and prayer. Please use the online link below or pick up a copy of the PC(USA) Mission Agency’s devotional, “Lord, When Did We See You?”
Question for the week: Have I loved God above all else, or have I allowed other things—money, popularity, image, success—to motivate me and have primary place in my heart?
We pray for change. We pray for transformation. We pray for transfiguration. We pray that the world around us will be changed to suit our needs, to agree with us, to be like the world we want. We do not give space for God’s work, trying to control it, thinking we know best. We pray for change—but only on our terms.
God, forgive us for thinking we know best.
God, be with us.
Strengthen us for the hard work of personal change, for the difficult task of trusting you, for the uneasy feeling that we might be wrong. God be with us, and show us the way to new life.
*This newsletter includes thoughts from several blogs about Lent from the Word Among Us and PC(USA) Mission Agency.
