Author: Uri Brito

Lent is an extended practice in meditation. The fourth-century father, Ambrose, once noted that “looking on Jesus will strengthen patience under the cross of Christ.” How often do we take time during the year to meditate under the cross of Christ? We may say we think of the cross, we may hear an occasional sermon on the cross, but when do we make the cross the sine qua non of our faith?

The Psalmist took the time to meditate:

“Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”

It is the call of the church to take time and ponder the love of God; to meditate on his continual, steadfast affection for his people. And no love is greater than the love that would give his life for the sake of a people (Jn. 10:15). Thus, to meditate during Lent is to look deeply at the cross of Jesus; to strengthen our patience and to train ourselves in the habits of love.

We cannot think about the birth, the cross, the empty grave, and the ascension simultaneously. Thus, the church structures the year in a way where each part of Jesus’ life is emphasized. In other words, the calendar gives us the opportunity to meditate on the whole Christ.

In particular, Lent is a corporate focus on the cross of Christ and the journey to that cruel tree. As we face with boldness the next thirty-seven days, we need to remember that Lent is a gift from God; a gift of time that we are to steward well.

As we prepare for worship this coming Lord’s Day, we would do well to remember God’s unfailing love. In love, our Lord Jesus gave his body for us that we would be made whole. Use this season. Don’t let it pass in vain. Meditate on his love. Indeed there is no greater love known to man than the death of the God/Man for man’s everlasting life.

Prayer: O blessed Jesus, whose life was given for us and whose blood was shed for our redemption, have mercy on us. We forget your love too often; we are selfish with your time and your cross is so easily removed from our meditation. But do not forget us, O Lord. Our hope is in you. Our life is in you. While we too often seek the love of other things, You never cease to love us. Keep us close to the cross for under that tree of death we will find the fullness of your life through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

In that famous Lenten text, the Gospels describe Jesus’ ascent to the mountain to be tempted:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”

Tolkien once said that “Shortcuts make for long delays.” Shortcuts are usually seen as a way of avoiding areas/places we don’t wish to encounter. Perhaps it is easier to choose the easy route; the road which demands less commitment or less repentance. It’s quite true that when we go on a journey, we need to know where we are going. But instead of a short route through beautiful sceneries, Lent provides a long and winding road filled with unseemly terrain which continues in these next thirty-eight days. But this is all necessary because our destination is Easter. Thus, we may fast on certain occasions, choose to serve others more consistently, to repent with greater vigor; the purpose of these things is not to earn some merit, but to learn just how precious are the merits of Jesus.

The road to the empty grave is a difficult road, but the only true road to glory. We can’t take shortcuts on this journey. We must walk through the desert places and step on serpent’s heads and take naps surrounded by wild animals. On this Lenten Season, we give thanks that our Lord Jesus did not take shortcuts on his journey to Calvary. Lent is a concentrated time to boast on the cross (Gal. 6:14) and to reorient our spiritual direction.

Prayer: O, blessed Lord Jesus, who did fast for 40 days, grant us the vision of our blessed destination as we journey with you in this season and do not cease to give us opportunities to make our calling and election sure through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

In the pathless mazes of the desert, Yahweh makes a way for his people. Through the readings, hymns, and themes, this season provides a clearer path to spiritual renewal. We all need a new orientation in our journey. The desert paths of Lent can be filled with frustrations, complaining, hunger and thirst. If we are going to face these next thirty-nine days, we need to know the paths of the Lord (Ps. 17:5).

In Psalm 107, God is moving his people from desert to city; from ruin to a new civilization. He is forming through his people a new polis; a new city that shines brighter than all other cities.

Lent is like a journey through the desert to the new city. That desert is the cruciform life; the life of repentance and self-giving. It’s a necessary track to the pastures of forgiveness. As we walk wounded or wavering, to that promised rest of Easter we “improve our baptisms.” The journey to Calvary is long but its rewards are everlasting.

Let us not mistake, however, the walk to Calvary as a call to isolation. Rather, the cross restores us into unity with one another. In fact, the Lenten journey must bind us together. Sin isolates us. Sin calls us to take our own ways in the desert than following the cloud by day and pillar by night. Sin prefers to wander than to confess. Sin desires darkness rather than light; blindness rather than sight. But the Gospel message this season is to walk together side by side, prayer by prayer, confession by confession until we reach the great city where the resurrected Jesus awaits us.

Prayer: Great God, who rules the deserts and cities, sea and dry land, rule over my heart today. May I not wander from your ways, but may you give me light to shine my path to that great city where your blessing flows world without end, Amen.

The Lenten Season begins today. Are you ready for all the treasures ahead? Are you ready to take up the cross with greater zeal in all your doings and then to Easter with all your being? This is a blessed journey of 40 days. The words of Psalm 1 summarize this journey:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers…

Lent is to face once again those words with renewed vigor and insight. Lent is a season to re-examine anew what it looks like to in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) what it means to put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-19) against the flames of the evil one.
Indeed we are blessed when we live our lives in light of those around us. We are the blessed ones when we live for the sake of blessing others. Our tables of fellowship and the halls of communion speak much about our lives. Where do we sit? Where do we stand? Are we sitting around a company of law-keepers? Are we standing with blessed ones or those who despise the blessings of Yahweh?

Lent is a journey to grace where our walking, standing and sitting gauges our interest in the life of faith. It is not an easy journey. It cuts us for forty long days. It allows us to bleed in ways we have not bled before; to mourn in ways we have not mourned before. Lent takes us through that journey where we ponder sin’s place in our lives and begin to demolish its presence and power in our daily walk. Lent is a blessed journey and only the blessed ones can walk faithfully to the resurrection city.

Prayer: O Lord, prepare me to embrace this journey with great passion this season. Do not allow my heart to wander into different journeys but to walk in the way of truth; to see your cross as the reason for my service and your death as the reason for my life. Make me whole and cause me to see wondrous things in your law for you are the truly blessed One of God through Christ our Lord, Amen.