The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1Corinthians 15:57,58)
Each year, we look forward to the penitential season of Lent. That seems strange to some who don’t understand the blessings this time affords. Among these blessings is time set aside to focus on our own sins and then to place them purposefully at the foot of the cross, knowing that Christ has already paid the price in our place.
A blessing arises from knowing that Lent is a period of time that culminates in Easter, that day the whole Church rejoices together in the victory Christ won as he rose from the dead. His resurrection is ours! The apostle Paul wrote, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul followed this declaration with the word “therefore,” implying that something should happen as a result of this great victory: we should “be firm.” Therefore, as we begin our Lenten Journey we should keep our eyes on Jesus, and we should do the work the Father has prepared for us to do, for we know what the fruits of our labor will be.
Our parish theme for Lent in 2014 is “From These Ashes”. What’s the significance of the theme? Throughout our lives we constantly face obstacles that prevent us from developing a closer relationship with God. We can look at these obstacles as the ashes in our lives. Unfortunately for some of us, we can get mired in those ashes and feel there is no way out. During this Lenten Season, we want the Cross to serve as a reminder that there is a way out of whatever troubles or obstacles we face. The promise of the Resurrection, as a result of Jesus dying in the cross, is all we need. We have been given the next 6 weeks as a gift. Unwrap the gift. We take advantage of this time to nurture our relationship with God. Rise from these ashes. Dust yourself off and bask in the splendor of Easter morning.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we rejoice in the victory you have won for us! Give us eagerness to live in that victory as we go about your work on earth. We pray this in your name. Amen.