As many of us know, Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of the year for many Christians around the world, yet nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to observe Lent, or in fact Christmas or Easter.

Traditionally, Lent is seen as a time of solemn observance and preparations for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.

‘What are you giving up this year?’ people ask.

We know Lent is a time to fast. But, why?

True fasting enables us to focus on God, when we might not otherwise, in order that we might learn something new about Him and become closer to Him again.

It is much deeper than simply giving up chocolate!

It is fitting that Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Ashes represent dust, or more poignantly, the dust to which we shall return. Ashes are the symbol for mourners. In earliest centuries, Christians who repented of sin had ashes sprinkled on their bodies as a sign of their repentance – their turning back to God, truly mourning their wrongdoings.

In fact, this is a deeply biblical principle. Amazingly, God exchanges the dusty ashes of our lives, washes them clean, and makes them new – he gives us beauty!

Whatever this past year has been like, or whatever we are facing in our lives, Jesus’ mission of love and life relates to each of us.

He came to display this love of God to everybody. His mission to demonstrate God’s ‘beauty-for-ashes’ regime still exists today. He deeply cares about the issues we face here and now.

He did not come into the world to exalt those who are high, to give greater power to the strong, or to clothe those who are already clad in their own righteousness.

The Spirit of God was upon Him that He might preach good news to the meek, that broken hearts should be bound up, captives redeemed, and prisoners released. He came with blessings for the poor, not with luxuries for the rich.

How wonderful to think that Jesus came that those whose eyes are filled with tears, whose songs are solemn, and those who dwell at death's door, may all be brought into his marvellous, freeing, wonderful light.

Lent then is the perfect opportunity to return to our deep relationship with God, to listen to him, to offer the ashes of our own lives, that he may exchange them for beauty, and give us hope, courage, mercy and love in abundance.

Most people like to choose cheerful company so they can be entertained, but the Lord Jesus chooses mourners and delights in those He can encourage and cheer.

He looks upon them with sympathetic eyes and gives them a share of his untold blessings!

I wonder, are you participating in Lent this year?

The restrictions of lockdown this Lent present us with a real opportunity to go through this season focussing on own selves and souls, and potentially reap the rewards of a holier, deeper and more wholesome relationship with the Lord, at the end of it.

He turns the exhausted, downtrodden, tired and wearied ashes of our relationship with him now and turns it into a beautiful budding wonderful relationship - if we can pursue and persevere through this time.

So, are you going to give something up?

Are you going to take something up?

Lent is about intentionally doing something that will bring you closer to God. You don’t need me to tell you read your bibles or pray more. What I will say is that there are wonderful garlands of beauty for us if we travel that road.

I pray that each of us, whatever our practice during this season may be, are able to offer God the ashes of our lives, and receive from him the beauty of his love and grace.

Amen.

(preached by Grant on Ash Wednesday 2021)