c. scott andreas

Lent is a forty-day season of fasting and reflection that has been observed by millions of Christians each year since the fourth century. I’d like to invite you to be a part of it today.

It’s a time to take stock of all the weight that you carry on your shoulders and leave it behind with reckless abandon.

It’s a time to get in touch with yourself, with those close to you, with creation, and with the God who made it all.

It’s a time to rediscover an ancient tradition.

But most importantly, Lent symbolizes the anticipation of new life. The season begins near the end of winter and looks forward to spring, inaugurated by Easter. It’s about reclaiming sacred time, celebrating the resurrection of the Son of God as new life bursts forth from the ground in April.

And it’s about preparing oneself for it. Lent is a partial fast, usually observed by giving up something that you’ve become accustomed to or adopting a new, better habit with the intent of disrupting your routine. That could mean committing to spend time in prayer each day, unplugging the TV, giving up meat/animal products (esp. on Fridays), fasting completely once a week, or even trading in Facebook for a better book.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 21). Since my church does not offer an Ash Wednesday service, I’ll be attending mass at St. Charles. If you’re a fellow Bloomingtonian, I’d like to invite you to come along - both then, and on this longer lenten journey together.

(Don’t forget Fat Tuesday, either; that’s your day to have fun and chow down!)