The First Sunday in Lent

This Sunday's sermonette is given by The Rev. Thomas Squiers, an Oblate Priest in the Benedictine Order of St. Michael the Archangel. He serves as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Texas and is also the Co-Director of Guadalupe House in Fort Worth. Father Squiers is currently serving as the Chaplain and Co-convener for Integrity Fort Worth in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.

Forty Days and Forty Nights: A Lenten Reflection

It is not so much a time to think about the death of Christ. It is not so much a time to ponder of the redemptive act of Christ for humankind. Lent is a time of preparation for the glorious event which occurred in the Savior’s life—or second life, if you will– on this earth: the Resurrection.

First of all, let us take a moment to understand why we “celebrate” Lent. This is actually a re-enactment of Jesus retreating to the wilderness, where he fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights up until the time of His entry back to Jerusalem. It was during this time that he was tempted by the enemy.

How often do we take our personal, spiritual retreats—in prayer time, our “downtime” - and we are taunted by the enemy? We escape to the wilderness for spiritual renewal only to find the barriers and obstacles which beset us. But redemption comes in the morning light—in the reality of our own Resurrection. It is our returning to life in Christ that we are redeemed a new people. And we are given this opportunity time and time again.

As Christ offered himself up freely, so he offers himself to us daily. Time and time again as we find ourselves giving in to sin and temptation, there is our Savior who welcomes us into His loving, forgiving arms and washes away all of the junk in our lives and renews a right spirit within us.

We become resurrected. We become whole. We become new again.

There is an old Lenten hymn called the “Passion Hymn.” And one of the verses goes:

He endured the nails, the spitting,
Vinegar, spear and reed:
from the holy body broken
Blood and water forth proceed:
Earth and star and sky and ocean
By that flood from stain are freed.

Let us recall the act of redemption, but let us also be reminded that we are a free people. And though we may be tempted in the wilderness, in our escape for renewal, we will find strength by His saving grace.

May God grant us a Lent of meditation and also that of deliverance from the obstacles so that we may be free. Amen.