By Sherry Larson

People’s Defender

Remembrance – The season of Lent is ending. Many denominations recognize the Liturgical Seasons and practice the Lent tradition. For the forty days leading up to Easter, Christians who engage in Lent aim to free themselves from their lives’ material and spiritual mess. The hope is to focus on God and transform and redirect our hearts toward love for Him and one another.

Ash Wednesday kicks off the Lent season. The ashes are a symbol of death and repentance. When a priest or pastor applies the ashes in the shape of a cross on someone’s forehead, they say, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.”

The Greek word metanoia means to change one’s mind. To metanoia is to repent, and genuine repentance leads to transformation. When Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men, they embraced the idea of something new and gave up the life to which they were accustomed. They put their faith in Him. The Lent season requires us to do a self-examination. Those who practice choose something to sacrifice during Lent. Often, we hear of someone quitting soda, sweets, or social media. And while there is nothing wrong with giving up these things, we should consider whether this sacrifice is meaningful. A more fulfilling surrender would benefit others. As God turns toward us – we turn toward God and others.

Perhaps we could give up resentment, bitterness, gossip, and offense. We could immediately be in mindful prayer when we sense these feelings and reactions stirring within us. Yes, that could mean we would pray at awkward times and interrupt our day. But as one of my favorite authors, Hugh Prather, reminds, “If we had diarrhea, we would break with the situation…It’s very simple: All we have to do is make the peace of God as important as we make diarrhea.”

If one has experienced the Lent season, one realizes the meaning of spiritual growth and the practice of spiritual disciplines. Many will spend time in Bible study, prayer, meditation, and fasting and train in the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). Through these practices, genuine change occurs, and we learn to live in God’s grace.

No one knew God’s grace like Jesus because He was God. He lived an authentically human life and experienced real struggles and despair. Consider his final hours of life and his prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. His soul was sorrowful as He cried to God, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42, NIV). That, my friends, is a heavy prayer. Jesus trusted his Father’s will, knowing God might not take his cup away. We live with that same tension. And admittedly, many of us question God about our and others’ misfortune and uncomfortable realities. This life and this hope we hold are complicated and mysterious.

Jesus is the vine, and the transformation of the vineyard takes place one branch at a time. Our life experiences may be painfully pruning, but the expectation of new growth emerges. We rely on one another for life and growth, and our love for one another is meant to overflow – we are the fruit.

Communion is our remembrance of Jesus. When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned, we remember Him. When we break bread with others, we remember Him. When we share a table with those on the margins and folks who think differently, we remember Him. And He lives in each of us who are willing to share life and love beyond our comfort zones.

The celebration of Easter remembers the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. His life continues in us, and He pursues us with His love daily, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our pursuit of love and profound servitude toward others.

Easter is ongoing when we reach out to carry another’s burden. The celebration of His life continues, and Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.”