Transformation and Lent
A letter of reflection and encouragement from Bishop Dan for this Lenten season.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In our Ash Wednesday services across our diocese last week we heard these words:
"I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent"
That invitation goes on to list ways to observe this season by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and alms-giving; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.
Drawing Near
You can see that there is nothing in this list about giving up chocolate or eating fish sandwiches on Fridays or reducing screen time. Instead, they are all about intentionally and practically drawing near to Jesus, who has loved us dearly in his suffering and death for us, and who graciously rules over every part of our life. When we accept this Lenten invitation– to intentionally recognise and repent of our sin against God and others, to commit to a regular time of personal prayer, and to renew our daily reading of God’s word humbly and prayerfully– there is a change that takes place in us because we will more clearly see Jesus’ goodness and know his loving rule over us, as we humbly and very practically obey him.
Reading Glasses
In the last few years, after a significant time of denial, I have finally come to an acceptance that I really need reading glasses. I had become accustomed to a certain fuzziness of words when I read that seemed normal, but now when I remember to wear my glasses the words I read become suddenly clear—it is a quite remarkable change! Similarly, the thinking of the world that surrounds each of us can so easily make our vision of Jesus fuzzy. However, the disciplines of repentance, prayer, and Bible study that we are invited to in Lent brings us a wonderful clarity about Jesus which changes us in remarkable ways.
Romans 12:2 tells us about this change:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
God’s will for us is to be transformed as he renews our minds. And we place ourselves under his transforming work as we take on this invitation from Lent. This is where we experience the ‘giving up’ aspect of Lent because as Canadian Anglican theologian Rev. Dr. Robert Crouse wrote:
“our transformation, the renewing of our minds in conformity to the Word of God… is death to an old nature, an old worldliness, an old conformity to this present age, which does not give up without a struggle.”
Cooperating with Our Transformation
A very practical help for us in our challenge of cooperating with our transformation is to form for yourself a rule of life. You can find a great guide for this at the end of the catechism in the Canadian BCP (1962) page 555:
Every Christian man or woman should from time to time frame for themselves a RULE OF LIFE in accordance with the precepts of the Gospel and the faith and order of the Church; wherein you may consider the following:
The regularity of your attendance at public worship and especially at the holy Communion.
The practice of private prayer, Bible-reading, and self-discipline.
Bringing the teaching and example of Christ into your everyday life.
The boldness of his spoken witness to your faith in Christ.
Your personal service to the Church and the community.
The offering of money according to your means for the support of the work of the Church at home and overseas.
I encourage you this Lent to prayerfully consider how, by God’s gracious and powerful help, you can specifically commit to each of these six aspects of a rule of life. In this way, may our Lord Jesus draw you into a deeper and clearer love for Him so that He is glorified in you as he transforms you day by day.
In the grace of our Lord Jesus,
+Dan
The Right Reverend Dan Gifford
Diocesan Bishop