Brothers and Sisters in Jesus,

Some of us have not even put away our Christmas decorations and now we hear Lent is almost here.  Time sure flies.  Maybe we should keep the Christmas decorations up, it would save us time in December, but the tree would really look bad by then.

The old Christmas tree is an image we need to hold before our eyes for Lent.  In December when we put it in the stand, it is all fresh and green and smells so wonderful.  As the days progress towards Christmas and beyond, even though we are faithful about watering it, the tree slowly dies.  The needles become brittle and fall.  One year our life was so busy in January; it was the middle of February before the tree came down - that was one dead tree.  I tell you all that, so I can tell you this.

Lent is a time of renewal.  Jesus tells us in Mark 1:15 – Repent of you sins.  The Greek word for repent is Metanoia.  This word can be translated to mean reform, refashion and reshape.  It means to change – to turn around and go in a brand new direction.  Lent is a time to look where we are and ask God to show us where we should be going, how we should be living.  It is not a time to get rid of those Christmas pounds by our Lenten fasting.  It is a time to grow closer to God than ever before.  This is not to stop at Easter, but this is to be a permanent change.

If you would ask people now, what is Lent?  They would not know or they would tell you it is some season.  Lent is one of the most important seasons of the Church year because we take a journey with Jesus to the Cross.  It is also one of the most important journeys we will ever take as we look at where we are and where we should be. 

Let us not be like our Christmas tree in January, dead and brittle.  Let us be what we call our trees – evergreens – full of love of God – and a new creation! (Psalms 1:3)

May your Lent be filled with the blessings of God and may you take the journey towards Him