The Hub, Mar. 6, 2019
Recently, I faced an ugly reality…my old office. After eleven years, it was time to pack up and move to Christ Lutheran. With the help of my wife, Kristine, we went to work. It took more than a day, but in the end, my things were packed, and the office clean again. I found there was plenty of dust and trash tucked away in unexpected places. Over time without really recognizing it, my workspace had become disordered. Yet, how pleasing it was to find amidst the dirt and grime small treasures that sparked many happy memories.
There are times in our lives that we need to set things straight. Liturgically, the Church offers us Lent. Many Christians give up certain foods or other pleasures as a discipline to help them recall the pain of sin and Christ’s own sacrifice. Others meet with their pastors to confess their struggle with sin and discern ways to make amends. Still others recommit to extra scripture studies, worship, or acts of mercy, charity and generosity. As the clutter clears, we might remember Jesus’ love more and see our lives in a new way.
Through the season of Lent, we reconnect to Gospel joy. Brother Roger of Taizé called Lent “forty days granted us in which to marvel at a love too great for words.” We participate in Lent not to become perfect, not to revel in our darkness with long faces, but to reconnect to a love longing to spark a springtime in our lives. Amidst our mess, we are offered new life through Jesus.
Originally published in The Hub, a weekly email of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.
© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.
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