An Invitation to Lent

A new breeze of the Lenten season is right around the corner, concluding the days of Epiphany (the Season of Light). The season of penance and fasting will begin with Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. It calls us to pray, discern, and renew the souls of Christ’s believers. Before the church celebrates the Easter Bunny and decorates Easter Eggs, it invites the believers to the season of passion and redeeming journey of Christ for humanity and creation.

It lasts 6 weeks, not including Sundays, and ending on Thursday, April 1, 2021 with “Maundy Thursday,” the day Jesus had the final meal (Passover Meal) with the disciples and was arrested in darkness. Then he was interrogated and condemned to death by the high priest and his council. Maundy Thursday marked the most humiliating and cruel act against Christ and his followers. It was an intense, fearful, and passionate time for all followers, including us.

The crucifixion of Jesus is remembered on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, the day of Darkness, the day of Death over Life. Until the women who visited on the first Easter day, the disciples and believers were surrounded by the power of death. Good Friday is the day when our souls face sobering words, “Beneath the cross of Jesus,” “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord.” This stands for the most powerful moment of “God so loved the world.” God, being most vulnerable, and therefore most powerful.

On the coming Ash Wednesday, we will have a worship service with the symbol of a Cross with Ashes through Zoom. Please join the worship on Wednesday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. The Maundy (Holy) Thursday worship will be on April 1, at 7:00 PM, and the Good Friday communion service will be on the following day, Friday, April 2, at 12:00 p.m. Mark the pain and victory of Christ in your soul and embrace every day in Lent with the passion of Christ for you and for all. And let us journey together as Christ invites us, again, to live out the passion and penance for “These 40 Days.”

Amen.

Pastor Cheol