Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).” John 20:17
I couldn’t believe it was Ash Wednesday. It snuck up on me. I had seen the leprechauns and bunnies displayed all over the stores and even hopping around on the television commercials, but I didn’t have the right frame of mind. Don’t get me wrong; I love Lent. The quiet, the prayers, the services, and even sharing more of me with Jesus make my heart sing. Yet somehow, it was in the back of my brain. You know, like when you’re digging in the pantry for the last chocolate chip cookie and someone walks by and says, “Whatcha looking for?” During Lent, step by step, Jesus helps me find what I am looking for each day. It isn’t a complete surprise when it happens; it was more like an awakening.
This year, my Ash Wednesday was a little disorganized. I finally got it all planned, or better yet, listened to what I thought Jesus had planned for me. It was written in ink in my paper calendar (yes, I still use one): “Ash Wednesday, 6:00 University Park United Methodist Church.” I was even going to be blessed by reading the liturgy. I had practiced all week. I was so excited, but just before I left, lightning struck my forehead in the form of a headache, and I found myself in bed wondering why it had to happen now. Then the age-old question came floating through the pounding: why not now? After all, Lent is not all about regret, misdeed, or guilt. It is a time of introspection, valid, but its ultimate purpose lies beyond repentance. In essence, Lent serves as our annual invitation to come closer to God. It provides a time in our lives and ourselves to look at the things that might be keeping us from God, obstructions that keep us from God. Lent allows us to look at such obstructions and move them gently away to come closer to the Love that gives us life, the Love whose triumph we will celebrate Easter morning.
Because of this, Lent offers a gift of time and a promise of closeness. It gives us time to honestly see our current state of affairs and compare this present snapshot with an image of where we would like to be, where we feel God wants us to find Christ’s message of new life and forgiveness.
Each of us comes before the Lord in our own way and in our own time. I hope that during this Lenten season, you can find a place for the Holy Spirit’s still small voice to seek you out. Some of us have never sat in the quiet and are starving for the quiet, but for some, the thought of being in the silence for 5 minutes is more than we can imagine, yet we still hear the Lord calling, “Come be still with me.” Some of us crave silence, and the noise of our lives is more than we can bear. It’s not too late. Let the Holy sneak up on you through this Lenten time as you walk by your dwelling place. One that is yours alone, that when you pass it during your day, you will breathe in the Holy Spirit of our Savior.
Mary was truly surprised when she went to check on Jesus that first Easter morning. He was nowhere to be seen until she heard His voice and felt His presence. All she wanted to do was touch Jesus, and that’s how I feel during Lent. Join me and feel His touch, Love, and presence.
Points to Ponder
1. What keeps us from feeling the presence of the Divine every day?
2. How do we hide from God, and why?
3. Where is your dwelling place with Jesus?
4. What does it truly mean to experience the touch of Jesus in our everyday existence?
Pray With Me
Dearest Jesus, we are blessed that you died and arose for us. Lead us to grow closer to You during this Lenten season so we can walk our day with you.
grow closer to You during this Lenten season so we can walk our day with you.
Walking for you