Lent as Gift

From Bruce Barber, Director of Music at St. James Cathedral:

"Ah, keeping a holy Lent....the church season so laden with traditions, both personal and communal, with gravitas, both liturgical and musical, and with change, both internal and external.

-          What should I "give up"? What should I "take on"?

-          What are the signs that compel me to take this time seriously?  

-          How do I look deep inside...and for what? 

It strikes me that Lent is always a season that is essentially a time outside of time....the Church sets this season apart from any other for each and every one of us to experience in the way which is best for EACH of us. We will not be called to the same places...to take on or give up  the same things...to look into the same parts of our souls. Yet, we are all called by the Church to do this work individually so that the body of Christ may be strengthened and so that our own awareness of the infinite love of God in our lives may draw us deeper into our communal life...in this place and in this time.  Lent is a great gift of the Church to each of us....I encourage you to make the most of it! " 

Consider this:

Thank you, Bruce.  Have you ever thought of Lent being a time outside of time?  Or Lent being a gift we receive for the sake of the whole community?  What are you doing, contemplating, reading, giving up, taking on this Lent that will draw you more deeply into the infinite love of God, and hence, more deeply into the common life we all share?