Day 23 - Community Tradition of Personal Redemption

Name:  Sosamma Samuel-Burnett (faculty)

Scripture: 

“I am the living bread … which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 5: 51)

Reflections:

Having been raised a Protestant in a Catholic community and a graduate of a Jesuit university, my experience of Lent was through friends who practiced it each year.  But I never participated with them because I thought it was exclusively a Catholic tradition and just a symbolic penitence.  I now realize that Lent is more than a tradition—it’s about a deeper, personal experience with Christ.

As WJU participates in Lent, my family does so for the first time.  I gave up dessert; my husband gave up coffee; my son gave up “being so funny;” and my toddler daughters “sacrifice” by sharing their toys.  None of these are truly sacrificial, but each presents opportunities for self-denial and refocus.  Without much thought, we allowed even these minor things to have a stronghold in our lives.   But during Lent we make conscience and daily decisions to deny them and partake in Christ instead.  If a small “sacrifice” can realign us in such a direct way, how much more so can daily, conscience decisions for Christ in all parts of our lives?  

After all, Lent is not about what we give up, but about preparing for what God is giving us.  We ready ourselves for a fuller understanding of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and ultimate victory for us.  We empty ourselves to be filled up with Him--the living bread and the resurrection, our source of life and our redeemer.

Prayer for the Day:

Father God, allow me each day to be filled by Christ and not the distractions of the world.  Clear my mind, focus my heart, on all that You have given me through Him.