Shade Tree Wisdom 3/8/11

The air was rain washed and pleasant, slightly moist, but then when I was turning toward home, I began to hear that little snick, snick on the shell of my jacket. But it did not pour rain, just a gentle reminder that it was going to be that kind of day. I remained fairly dry.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. This is a season often misunderstood. For example, a cartoon comes to mind. A man behind bars is saying rather plaintively to his cell mate, “The irony is that I am here doing time for crimes being done by the guy whose identity I stole.”

Yes, the season is about sin, but not that we deny ourselves or fast or do something other to make it more real to us. It’s not so much about self-denial as it is about self examination. Understand what the Lord saw, that “the imagination of a man’s heart is evil from his youth”. Gen.8,21.

The prophet Jeremiah repeated that lament. He said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it.” And then he adds this, “I, the Lord, search the heart.” Jeremiah 17, 9.10. So, when Saul as king assumed the duty of the priest and offered sacrifices, Samuel rebuked him sharply when he said, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15,22. This disobedience by king Saul cost him the throne.

And we so need to sharpen our understanding of where we are. St. Paul writes, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Rom.3,23.

So use this season of Lent to remember again just what our salvation cost. Peter writes, “Christ suffered for us, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3,18.

I pray the 40 days will help see more deeply and clearly what the cost was. Christ paid it when He suffered and died, and the Lord received the payment in full when Jesus rose from the dead.

In that spirit, I pray for you a blessed Lent.

GPD 3/8/11