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 Fear for Friendship
This day our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate the Three Days of Jesus’ death and Resurrection. As we gather, we remember Christ’s last meal with his disciples, but the central focus is his commandment that we live out the promise embodied in this meal-love. In Jesus’ ministry, he called his disciples friends, and now as he washes their feet, he invites them to give and receive love in humble service to one another. Formed into a new body in Christ through this holy meal, we too are transformed by the love, nourishment, service, and friendship we have received and carry it into the world.