Lent: A Season to Deepen Our Relationship with Christ

Introduction

Lent: A Season to Deepen Our Relationship with Christ

Good news! Lent is not really about sin – at least not primarily. It’s not about beating ourselves up for continuing Adam and Eve’s fallen ways. It’s about returning to the font of life. It’s about cleaning out the clutter that has compromised our relationships. It’s about purifying our seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, and the desires of our souls, so we can better strive for the cross and resurrection of this season and everyday life.

During Lent we are called to turn away from sin and live the gospel. To do so we need to examine what tempts us. In the process we can get lost in self-pity or self-condemnation. We might take on penances without any connection to our relationship with Christ and neighbor. We can sometimes forget why we’re giving things up, or doing something extra.

As we begin Lent we would do well to consider what penances we will choose and how they are connected to our relationships with Christ and others. If our penances are not connected to the state of our relationships we may find that Lent bears little fruit, and after these 40 days our relationships are in need of the same renovation as before the ashes were imposed.

This Lent I invite you to ask, “What is my relationship with Christ is meant to be like? What is it like now? Don’t focus primarily on your failure, but on learning what kind of response the grace of Christ requires, and how we can build the strong relationship with Christ that he wills us to have. To bear fruit we must focus our first glance not on ourselves – which might become a pity party or a dance of self-deception – but on Christ. What does it take to reach him? What impedes our progress toward him? What is in the way rather than on the way?

Our souls get stuffed with many things that become distractions and deterrents to our progress. The fasting of Lent is meant to empty us of the clutter that has accrued; perhaps the excess has been gathered because of inattention, or disordered priorities. Lenten repentance is a call to attention and prioritizing. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving might mean taking a break from the ordinary consumer and entertainment culture that drives our society to madness. Lent is a time to step away from those dynamics and observe the frenzied tugs and attractions they generate in us, and the effect they have on our spiritual life. Lent is a time to step closer to Christ and immerse ourselves in his culture.

Lent is not primarily about sin; it’s about our relationship with Christ. It’s about getting ready for resurrection and glory. The reason for us to go into the desert of Lent is not to deprive ourselves for deprivation’s sake, but in order to meet Christ. Anything else misses the point. I hope these Lenten Meditations help you deepen your relationship with Christ. Before you begin, take a moment to consider the following questions:

·        Do you want a deeper relationship with Christ?

·        What will be most helpful to you in developing a deeper relationship with Christ?

·        Are you willing to cultivate this during the days of Lent?

·        What special preparations do you need to make in order to bear fruit?

God bless your desire to return to him and be saved in Christ!