Lenten Reflection

Taken from Primer on Ash Wednesday by Rich Lusk:

What is the meaning of Lent? How can it help my Christian life?
Each season of the calendar focuses on a different part of the gospel narrative, and thus a different facet of the Christian life:

Advent – Christ’s promise
Christmas – Christ’s presence
Epiphany – Christ’s revelation
Lent – Christ’s suffering
Easter – Christ’s victory
Pentecost – Christ’s mission

Looked at this way, Lent is vital part of the story the calendar tells. To celebrate Easter without observing Lent is to want the crown without the cross, it’s to want the glory of the resurrection without the shame of Calvary. Do not make the mistake of making your own sufferings or self-denial the focus of Lent. Instead, keep the sufferings and death of Jesus central, remembering that our sufferings and death to self are corollaries of our union with the Savior who has already won our salvation. By observing the cycle of Lent and Easter, we are better prepared to live out the rhythm of the gospel, dying to sin and living the resurrection life of Christ (Romans 6:1ff).
Lent is only worth observing if we do so in light of coming Easter joy; but without proper observance of Lent, Easter celebrations are cheapened and depleted of their power. In our narcissistic, self-centered culture, Lent takes on special importance. You will know you have kept Lent rightly if you come to the end of it’s 40 day journey with a deeper faith in Christ crucified and a greater joy in the power of the risen Christ.