Isaiah 58:1-12

By: Mary Catherine Young

Self-denial is probably the most common practice associated with the six-week season of Lent that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Day. Giving up sweets and sodas are what many of my fellow youth-group members would challenge themselves with back in our high-school days. Commitments to reading the Bible more intentionally, trying different prayer disciplines, and eating McFish on Fridays were other “resolution”-like practices that have become common in the cultural recognition that Christians do something different in February and March (before breaking out the Peeps and Cadbury Eggs – available in stores on February 15).

My own experience of “not eating chocolate” rarely led me to examine who I was in the eyes of God, or how I might seek to be more present to God, and be a part of God’s work in the world today. It mostly just developed a hunger for Easter-basket overload when the day of resurrection arrived.

The challenge of the season of Lent, of self-examination, and repentance, is the invitation to look deeply into yourself, your life, your choices – to see where cleansing and de-cluttering are needed – to see the places in your life where unnecessary things are taking up space, widening the gap between yourself and your neighbor, and the God who loves you both.

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
(Isaiah 58:6)

What kind of self-reflection, repentance and response will you engage in, in this season of Lent? Will it be one that helps you grow in understanding the gifts you have to offer in building up the kingdom of God? Will it include a commitment to make a new, intentional choice that will not only serve as a reminder to you to do things differently, but as a means of making a change that will impact others?

The sweet taste of Easter at the end of Lent will be a welcome return. But for me, the accomplishment of developing a practice of new intentionality – choosing a portion of scripture to delve into and learn well, recommitting myself to a time and place for prayer, engaging with a community that I have wanted to serve but have not yet carved out the time to connect with – to these Lenten practices, the taste of chocolate bunnies cannot compare.

On this day I invite you to the observance of a Holy Lent.

My prayer for you:

May God guide you, and satisfy your needs, and make you strong. May you know the refreshment of ceaseless spring water. May you repair the decayed foundation and build up the next generation. May you hear your invitation to close the gap between yourself and God, and pave the streets you walk on so that others might live in community with you. Amen.

(adapted from Isaiah 58:11-12)