What does it all mean?

As Lent 2014 comes to an end and the joy of Easter approaches, our journey has led us to reflect on some of our weaknesses and habits that would be better left behind.

Fear, denial and avoidance are never productive, even when it might seem that way. When we fear failure, or success, we sabotage our own dreams and efforts. When we procrastinate, we put off the inevitable, and prevent ourselves from putting our best effort forward in the rush to just get it done at the last minute. When we please people at the expense of pleasing God, we have gotten off track. Criticizing others is a lame attempt to dispel self-doubt, and negative self-talk convinces us to aim low.

As the apostles were drawn unwittingly into the drama of Christ's passion and crucifixion, they had their moments of self-doubt, of criticizing one another and, at times, themselves. They experienced fear, they denied Christ himself, they got off track and tried to please themselves or make themselves look better in the eyes of humans, forgetting the radical lessons Jesus had taught them in their 3-year journey together.

What did Jesus do? He loved them all anyway. He gently (most of the time) steered them back where they needed to be. He offered them glimpses of his own glory, and God on occasion made the relationship between himself and his son manifest for all who had eyes to see.

He sent his disciples off to preach, telling them not to take anything at all with them, to shake off the dust of places where they were not accepted and keep going. He told them it was OK to accept what they were offered by the people they ministered to, that they were deserving, but also that they should accept what came their way.

Jesus often told his followers not to be afraid, that he would be with them until the end.

Lent is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of liturgical seasons, because of its simplicity, its severity even, but also because it takes us back to basics, to be humble of heart and to reflect on our lives, our actions, our words and on how our actions and words affect those around us. In one more week, we will celebrate Palm Sunday and then, ready or not, be flung headlong into Holy Week, when we will, in our own way, enter into the passion of Christ ourselves before celebrating the joy of Easter, of resurrection and new life.

Without our own journey into the desert of Lent, the joy of Easter would be lost in the busy-ness of everyday life.

Lent reminds us to think of others, to know that as special as we may be, we are given what we have to share with others, and the greatest riches are found in learning to be poor in spirit and to serve one another as members of a community of faith, to reach out and touch one another as we are able.

May the peace of Christ be with you.