“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
As we begin our journey through the season of Lent, I am reflecting on the many seasons I have served as a Chaplain at Lutheran Senior Services. It has been a joy and a privilege to serve the team members and residents of our Affordable Housing communities for the past 12 years. I am also blessed to have been able to serve in many other areas of ministry for the past 25 years in St. Louis. After being stationed at bases all over the world for 20 years in the U.S. military, it has been nice to just stay in one place for a while.
With so many seasons behind me, what could possibly await me and everyone else this Lenten Season that we haven’t experienced already? The answer is: the journey! There may be similarities, but every new journey begins by taking a fresh new step forward in faith following Jesus to the cross. There is no single moment in life’s journey that is exactly the same. The days of our lives are not lived out on a revolving loop like in the film Groundhog Day.
For me, this year’s journey will begin for the first time without my mother’s loving physical presence and encouraging voice. I am not the only one to bear that cross – but now I know how painful it feels. Will there be a heaviness in my steps along the journey? I won’t know until I take the first step. What I do know, and what God wants us all to know, is that He has sent His Son Jesus to walk every step with us.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday, the season of Lent is 40 days (excluding Sundays) where many Christians use this time to fast, pray, and to do acts of discipline and service. Sundays are considered “in Lent” and not “of Lent.” So, the 40 days of Lent align with Jesus’ fasting and praying in the wilderness, while Sundays are considered a mini celebration of the Resurrection.
Lent is an opportunity for all Christians to begin a season of atoning reflection and prayer focusing on the journey our Lord Jesus took to the cross where He would give up His life for our lives. This is the “exodus” journey, which was foreshadowed during the time of Moses, who led the people of Israel to the promised land. Now Jesus is completing the exodus journey by leading every person of every nation to behold the promises of God fulfilled in Himself where we are brought into His everlasting Kingdom.
The destination of living life with God eternally is why the Lenten journey is so important. Without it we have no hope of reaching nor obtaining it ourselves. As we begin this 40-day journey of Lent with Jesus, He will continue to teach, discipline, and transform us along the way for a benefit of blessings that will last. May the Lord, who has begun this faithful journey with us, keep us until our journey is completed and we are all seated at His banqueting table to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom! “Lord, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom while on our Lenten journey with You, amen.” SOLI DEO GLORIA