Giving something up is a traditional practice of the season, but often we do not venture past giving up something like chocolate or wine. Perhaps God wants us to give up something more significant, and more importantly, perhaps God wants us to give up these things in order to make room for something better, more impactful… God’s steadfast love in Jesus Christ. So this Lent, let’s give up hubris for humility and greed for gratefulness. Throughout these 40 days, let’s give it up for Lent so our hearts can grow closer to Christ!
Giving up False Kings for The True King
Since at least the fourth century, Christians have kept the Sunday before Easter as a memorial of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and a procession of palms, begun in Jerusalem, has literally spread throughout the world. On this day, our shouts of “Hosanna” quickly shift to cries of “Crucify him!” Yet, as we compare the actions of Governor Pilate and King Herod to Jesus’ death on the cross, we recognize who the true king really is, and like the criminal crucified next to him, we say, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”