Leaning into Lent 2025
Lent has begun. We had a beautiful contemplative service for Ash Wednesday all on Zoom. It seems snow on Ash Wednesday is a frequent thing! However, it did not stop us from gathering and sharing a simple service of music and prayer to begin the season.
On Sunday we will continue the journey with Luke’s parables. The first one will be the story of the rich man and Lazarus. What does this ancient story have to tell us about living in the world today? You might be surprised by how relevant this simple story is.
There might be something in it to help us navigate the wilderness we are living in.
Historically, Lent is a penitential season, a time for inward reflection. The traditional focus of Lent is on confession and repentance. This isn’t necessarily wrong or bad, I’m just not sure how helpful it is for us now.
Yes, we need to spend some time examining our own lives for those places where God seems absent, and then invite God in. We also would benefit from seeking God in the literal places where God seems absent.
Where are we encountering the Holy in a wholly unexpected way? How do these encounters shape our journey onward? What can you do to open yourself to more experiences of Divine Love?
Lent is a great time to “fast” from things that are not particularly helpful to us. Many people give up social media for Lent or watching the news. There’s nothing wrong with these practices. Yet, it’s important to ask what we are doing instead that makes the world a better place?
The purpose of fasting during Lent used to be to “identify with the suffering of Christ.” I’m not sure how giving up dessert or potato chips helped anyone do that, but that was the original intent.
Theology evolves. I don’t think it’s so important to do that these days. It’s more important to recognize suffering around us and respond to it. For example, if you choose to give up purchasing coffee (or your favorite beverage) for Lent, then what will you do with that money and time that makes the world better for someone else?
While we seek out the presence of God in our lives and in the world in an effort to navigate the wild, untamed places, perhaps we can commit to sharing the Love in a real way with some of our neighbors.
We’ve chosen “For Such a Time as This” for our guiding words this Lent. Queen Esther used her position for the benefit of her people. She was queen “for such a time as this.” Perhaps you and I are part of the Bodymind of Christ for such a time as this.
If you are engaging in a new spiritual practice this season, or renewing an old practice, please share here. We are stronger when we take this journey together.
You’ll also want to join us in person for worship, if at all possible, because this year’s mementos are pretty cool! Of course, if you cannot make it to worship, we’ll bring them to you or send them in the mail.
Be sure to check out the rest of the announcements and the internal posts so you don’t miss any of the many activities and opportunities happening in the coming days and weeks.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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The image you (Rachael) created for us is wonderful! The Cosmos in the background, but then the overlay of the compass, and then the words of “mission” for us to consider: “for such a time as this…”
To be honest, I’d rather NOT have “such a time as this.” I grieve for so much that is being lost/destroyed/undone. I feel so little power to fight the malevolent forces–not just those of our own “government” but worldwide as oligarchs and power-mad arch-conservatives attain and wield power. I don’t want this. But boy, it’s really bringing home what Jesus himself must have seen and been up against, in his own time. The politics of his era were certainly every bit as bad as what we are experiencing right now. Yet his faith, his total trust in, and reliance on, his connection to his Source (his experience of Abba)–can I take a lesson from his example and live with that much faith?
I don’t know. But I know that more than ever I need that Cosmic ethical compass–and pray that’s its True North poets to love.
Thank you, Doug. I appreciate your honest and thoughtful response. My prayer is that we all find “True North.”