Go and Prepare
Near the end of Jesus’ earthly life, he said he was going away to prepare a place for us to dwell with him one day. But before then, he asked his disciples to go and prepare a place to dwell together, to share a final meal. These are words for us as well as we approach the holy Lenten season. And while we may not have a room and a meal to set in place, we can begin to set our lives in order as we prepare to journey through these days with Jesus. Yet, this is not a journey that asks what we should take with us to make it to the end. Rather this journey asks what we can leave behind to make the journey lighter, to unburden our souls, to humble our hearts as we walk and watch and pray with Jesus.
How do we prepare for the 40-day journey that will lead us to Easter morning? These 40 days known as Lent in some spiritual traditions, encourages a sacrifice that helps us identify with the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. We begin tomorrow on Ash Wednesday where we hear the words, “ashes to ashes and dust to dust. From dust you were created and to dust you shall return.” And so we reckon ourselves to our own mortality and brokenness as we begin to strip away the false comforts and wasteful luxuries in which we indulge or hide behind to protect our vulnerabilities. Lenten sacrifices and offerings can never save our souls, but they can humble our hearts and put us in a right posture as we come to sit at Jesus’ feet during these days of passion.
Perhaps, we choose to set side our habits of criticizing and complaining to make room for building habits of thanksgiving and praise. Or we might fast from information overload and spend the extra time meditating on the Word. Dare we give up Friday happy hour for this season and commit to an hour of being still before the Lord? Giving up fast food may invite us to slow our pace long enough to sit with a friend over a meal. A simple change like this can wake us to a new awareness of the inner life that we often ignore, the place where Jesus walks and comes to share a meal and intimate dialogue.
So let’s start this journey with open hearts and open hands ready to give something of ourselves so that we are free to receive something from the Divine One.
For The Journey: As you “go and prepare” your heart, mind, and soul for this journey, notice what the road conditions are in your life? What road signs do you see? Under construction? Yield? Reduce speed? Is there anything that you want to offer or sacrifice during these 40 days that will bring you to a deeper awareness of Jesus on your journey?
