Lenten Reflections: From Repentance to Resurrection

Next Wednesday, February 14th, is Ash Wednesday!

We begin the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday with the call to repentance, and end the season with the wonderful celebration of the Easter resurrection. I recently noticed that both repentance and resurrection begin with RE. In my fascination for words and patterns, I began exploring RE words that may guide our Lenten journey this year. Oh, so many lovely words were found!

Dictionary.com defines ‘re’ as “a prefix, occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, used with the meaning “again” or “again and again” to indicate repetition, or with the meaning “back” or “backward” to indicate withdrawal or backward motion.”

And certainly Lent is a time of acknowledging and grieving our sinfulness (which we seem to do “again and again”); of repeating our fasts or other spiritual practices; of trying again and again to grow as followers of Christ. Lent is also a time to look backward on our past mistakes; to look again at the life of Jesus along with his ways and teachings; and a time to withdraw from the things that keep us from deepening in him.

This Lent, we will have a weekly theme with daily RE words to consider, along with a short devotion. (Sundays will be my Sabbath rest from writing.) It is my prayer that these words and devotions will faithfully and beautifully bless your ever-deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.