Readings:
Exodus 24:12-end;
Psalm 2;
2 Peter 1: 16-end;
Matthew 17:1-9

Collect:
Holy God, you know the disorder of our sinful lives:
set straight our crooked hearts,
and bend our wills to love your goodness and your glory
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflection - The Season of Second Chance

Next week Wednesday is the Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent; a period of forty days that lead us to the crucifixion and to Easter.  People often don’t look forward to Lent. Childhood memories of giving up candy or sitting through weekly Stations of the Cross come immediately to mind. Words like “sacrifice,” “discipline,” and “self-denial” are often used in ways that suggest that Lent is something to be endured rather than a time of grace and spiritual growth.

Have you ever thought of Lent as a yearly second chance? each year the Church gives us six weeks to take a long, loving look at our lives to see if our values and priorities are in line with God’s desires for us. Since some of us may find that we’ve wandered from God’s path, therefore Lent becomes that second chance, or do-over, to “return to God with our whole heart.”

Do you give things up for Lent?  I usually try to give something up, but most years it is just like a New Year’s resolution – it doesn’t last long.  But this year, I am committed.  It is going to happen and none of you can tempt me out of it.  It may be extremely cliché, but yes, I will give up breakfast and lunch for Lent (so help me God!).

Every year, the first Sunday in Lent includes a reading of the temptation story.  This year we will read Matthew’s version, and it is quite fitting for those of who have given something up because they will encounter that feeling of temptation to give in.  But notice that in the gospel of Matthew we don’t just get the temptation story, we also get Jesus’ baptism right before that in chapter three. In my reflection, I will like to suggest that this Lent should not only be about giving up, but it should also be about making space to take up.

Jesus giving and taking

In the temptation story in Matthew chapter four, Jesus is both giving up and taking up. Jesus is about to give up his anonymity, no longer will he simply be the humble carpenter working in his home village. Jesus is about to take up his very public ministry of ushering in the kingdom of God as seen in his teachings and in his presence amongst the people. Above all Jesus gave up his heavenly glory and fully embraced his humanity as demonstrated in his submission to be baptised. The challenge to us as his disciples is - what are we giving up for the sake of the kingdom? Are we willing to stop being anonymous Christian by public declaration of our faith in God through our words and actions?

Jesus in the Wilderness

He was led by the spirit into the wilderness and Jesus waited on his father for 40 days in fasting and prayers – an indication that he was depending on his father for the task ahead. The call to us as we go through the season of Lent is that we should recognise our need for God just like Jesus did – this is the best way we can embrace our humanity! As we follow the footstep of Jesus at this season of Lent, we must remember that Lent is a much deeper season than simply giving up sweets and chocolate or coffee, rather it is a season that leads us to new life through death.  

In this Lenten journey, I will like to encourage us to turn towards the challenge of entering into a wilderness of stillness, of expectation and waiting to meet God. As we journey through, we must remember that each step brings you closer to the welcoming arms of our loving God.

Adedayo Adebiyi