So we start again. Yesterday – call it Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day – concluded the season before Lent, and today marks the entrance into the season of Lent.

As of late Linda and I have been reading Timothy and Kathy Keller’s book, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Devotions in the Psalms. Yesterday’s reading for March 5 calls one to,

Build an identity that gets it significance (“glory”) – makes its “boast” (Jeremiah 9:23-24) – not from our accomplishments or racial identity or talent or moral efforts or family but from God …. How can we get such an identity? By not just believing in God but “tasting” and experiencing God’s goodness in prayer (Psalm 34:9). And by comforting afflicted peoples with the comfort we have received (Psalm 34:2, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) until they can glorify God with us (Psalm 34:3). (p 64)

Psalm 34:1-3 – I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glorify in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

As we enter the season of Lent, by what we do or don’t do, by our fast or by our feast, maybe we can let the focus not be on our success or failure in our Lenten practices but on how God uses such to root our identity in God’s goodness, grace and glory.

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est”