Ready, Aim, Fire!

2-21-21Sermon Notes“Ready, Aim, Fire!”
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Lent. If you didn’t grow up observing Lent, you might wonder about what it is, and why we observe this season for the forty days leading up to Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and ends on Holy Saturday (the Saturday before Easter). The word, “Lent,” comes from the Anglo Saxon word, lenchten, and means “lengthen” – as in the lengthening days of spring. The forty days part represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan, and preparing to begin his ministry.
The Gospel of Mark (in its usual quick-paced fashion) just moves right through Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the wilderness without wasting words.
[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
[10] And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
[11] And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
[12] And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
[13] He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
[15] and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1: 9-15 NRSV)
Lent is a time of getting ready, of repentance (changing our aim), and then reflecting on our own ministry of telling the good news. It is a time to grow through self-examination and reflection. Some people use this as a period of fasting (giving something up), or even adding a spiritual practice for these forty days. If we approach this season wisely, it can be a very fruitful time for us! That’s my prayer.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam