Lenten season springs faith

Pope Francis admonishes the global Church to become “islands of mercy”

“Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.”

The above words sound like they could have been written by the apostle Paul, urging Christians throughout the New Testament world to live worthy of the calling that they had received.

But the apostle Paul did not write these words. Pope Francis did.

In his Lenten address, the text of which was released by the Vatican Jan. 27, the pope admonished Christians around the world to wake up from their slumber and live as they were intended to — to actively shine the light of Christ in a dark, decaying world. It is a message that left me feeling challenged and inspired. A message I will reflect on during this Lenten season, which begins, for the Western church, with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and ends Easter Sunday, April 5.

Lent is not a tradition I was raised to practice. In fact, I spent 11 years of my life in a Southern Baptist church, where Lent was simply not a part of the program.

I am not saying whether that is good, bad or ugly. That is just how it was.

Somewhat ironically, two of my years spent as a member of a Southern Baptist church were also spent as a student at a Catholic middle school in my hometown, where I was first introduced to the season of Lent, the 40-day period of concentration and consecration before Easter Sunday. While there are 46 total calendar days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, Sundays are not included in the Lenten count, making the season 40 days.

As recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus underwent 40 days of testing and fasting in the wilderness. Thus, some Christians choose to set apart 40 days in their lives as well.

Although the tradition seemed strange to me at first — other students were walking around with ashes smudged in the shape of a cross on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday — I began to appreciate the tradition much more when I discovered the meaning behind it.

For Christians all over the world, especially those from liturgical backgrounds, Lent is a time of intentional, daily reflection upon the life and work of Christ. During the 40 days of Lent, many observe a fast from meat or choose something else to give up as a means to remove distractions, or those little everyday things that we so often run to for comfort. Starbucks or Facebook, anyone?

Others, instead of giving up something for Lent, choose to add something to their lives. They commit to a more focused time of daily prayer, volunteer with a charity or take the time to make healthy changes to their lifestyle. And while all of this may sound like an extended New Year’s resolution to some, it is much more than that.

It is a time, as Francis reminds us, to be intentional about living as the body of Christ, as individuals and as a community of believers.

“I believe an evangelical celebration of Lent affords an opportunity to reinforce rather than undermine the significance of Christ’s person and work,” Michael Horton, professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California, wrote in an article for Christianity Today.

What I love about Lent is that it crosses denominational boundaries. It is a time for all those who follow Christ to journey with him to the upper room, into Gethsemane, to Calvary, into the tomb and finally, to victory. To share in his sufferings, to know more of his heart and, as Pope Francis said, to “become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.”

It is an invitation into an intimate fellowship with Christ, to become aware of the things in our lives that consume us, the things that keep us from seeking him.

As a millennial university student living in an extremely chaotic world, the idea of an intentional, 40-day period of soul inspection and focus on Christ, taking my thoughts captive to make them obedient to him, is like finally stumbling upon an oasis in a desert. Refreshment.

So, if you are looking for me this Ash Wednesday, you will find me in a pew, learning what it means to become an island of mercy, as my savior is. And do not worry — I will not say anything if you come in late. I will just slide on over and smile. The more islands, the better.

GRAF is a feature reporter.