As quickly as Christmas has come and gone, now Lent is upon us with an almost silent approach. We will notice the changes in the sanctuary. Purple now adorns the altar, parts of the liturgy are omitted, the hymns carry the minor key as the major focus of the season is on repentance. The Scripture readings appointed throughout the season will call out to us the need for reflection and repentance. The solemnity of the decor and Word are heard from John the Baptist as recorded by Luke in his 3rd chapter when it says that John "went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." John quotes from the prophet Isaiah and calls for the hearers to "prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." John is preaching a Lenten sermon then and now.
Lent assists us with one of the most difficult tasks we have as Christians. The call to repent. I am reminded of the liturgy from TLH 15 when in the corporate confession of sins we said "but I am heartily sorry for them." If one speaks over those words too quickly a dangerous change can take place. Our temptation is to look upon our sins and say "I am hardly sorry for them." Some sins we find repulsive. Those are usually the sins committed against us or the sins so easily identified in other people. The task is to find our sins repulsive. When we convince ourselves that the transgressions we commit are acceptable by society or they don't really hurt anyone, and since I seem to like my trespasses; we soon are hardly sorry for them.
The Lenten season is such a blessing to us that we might not appreciate it fully. It causes us to listen to the Word of God in all of its Truth and honesty. It doesn't just inform us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." It makes sure we know that "there is no one who has not sinned, no, not even one" including us, we, me. Lent is not a season of self congratulation, self promotion, or self esteem. It is a season of self reflection with honest evaluation. It drives home the painful point that "the wages of sin is death." It is a season of repentance.
It prepares the way for the Lord, it makes straight paths for Him. It sweetens the Easter joy with a message that assures us of the victory Jesus gained over sin and death with His glorious resurrection. There is hardly any need for a sin forgiving Jesus if we are hardly sorry for our sins. When Lent has had its way with us, driving us into the deep purple of repentance, our hearts will be lifted up like the evening sacrifice when the Good News of Jesus resurrection is proclaimed. It was His heart that bled the red fluid of redemption. His body and blood sacrificed to deliver us from the consequences of sin. His body and blood placed in our mouth that we may be benefactors of divine deliverance.
God bless you my brothers and sisters as we enter the ever so difficult season of Lent. May He bless you with the sure and certain hope and truth of forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord.
President Saunders.
