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The season of Lent officially ends today, and we are about to begin the holiest three days of the church’s entire year. Are you ready? Have you kept your Lenten disciplines, with less meat or caffeine or television or whatever else, and more prayer and charity and service?
Maybe you have, or maybe not. Maybe you’re like me and your answer is, “Kind-of.” The world around us doesn’t slow down for the church’s seasons of preparation. Advent is often full of extra Christmas activities — concerts and parties and family gatherings. Lent doesn’t usually bring those same kinds of extras, but regular life continues at its usual pace.
For many of us, that’s enough of a challenge to navigate when we’re trying to cultivate a richer prayer life, give more of ourselves in service, or go without some of the comforts that brighten our days. These things certainly aren’t impossible to accomplish, but neither are they easy in the midst of lives that are already full (or even overfull). Nevertheless, it is good for us to keep trying — day after day and year after year. There is much to be gained from any attempt at drawing nearer to Jesus, no matter how feeble our efforts might feel.
And, when we fall short, we take comfort in the fact that Jesus is always ready to draw near to us. Even now, these great and holy days are upon us, and there is still time to immerse yourself in them. Whether or not you’re satisfied with your Lenten efforts … whether or not you feel duly prepared … J esus has given himself for you. It’s time to rejoice in that gift.
Over the next few days, Christians near and far will worship. A lot. We will recall those mighty acts—at once hideous and stunningly beautiful—through which Jesus has won our salvation. And we will thank God that his salvation is ours in spite of our lackluster efforts and our overfull lives and our unfulfilled intentions.
I encourage you to be part of these holy days. Worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Walk with Jesus through the fi nal days of his life — farewell and betrayal, trial and suffering, crucifixion and death. Follow him all the way to the tomb, then sit and wait for the stone to be rolled away.
Your Easter rejoicing will be all the richer when you’ve walked through the death that led to that glorious resurrection.
