28 “Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew
11:28-30
This week, we begin the season
of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a
time set aside for prayer, fasting (not only from food, but anything that can
disconnect/distance us from the Divine ~ anything that demands our allegiance
and promises to make us whole, but leaves us feeling empty). During Lent, we focus on God’s holy
presence. Lent is tethered and tied to
Advent. God’s work of saving love for
the whole world began at Christmas, not just on Easter Sunday. God’s work of saving love already happened with
the incarnation of Jesus. Remember,
another name for Jesus is Emmanuel, meaning God with us. When we pray the word “Emmanuel,” we name the
ongoing work of faith to find a manger-shaped space in our souls every
day. The above passage invites us to
slow down and savor the sacred as we begin the season of Lent.
Where are you weary ~ could be
physically, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally.
What burdens do you keep lugging
around in your invisible backpack?
Where have you convinced
yourself that the pain is your cross to bear, but maybe God is asking you to
set down and release the white-knuckle grip you have on that pain?
Where do you long for rest or
renewal?
Lent doesn’t have to be serious
and somber. Lent is a call to be honest
and heartfelt about connecting to the Holy.
First, we are invited to be honest with ourselves about how we can be
frustrated, frenzied, and flummoxed by life right now. How we live with the tension of doing normal
things like eating, laughing, singing, shopping, going to the doctor, and
talking to friends ~ when the world isn’t normal. This tension longs to be named and
grieved. We ask for Emmanuel to meet us
in the messiness and uncontrollability of life.
Today, let Jesus’ invitation to
bring all you carry. As you do, join me
as we softly sing to our souls the words of What a Friend We Have in Jesus,
the third verse:
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
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