Why is a Protestant marking Lent, you may ask?

I’m convinced Lent’s basics – Pancake Tuesday; Ash Wednesday – is essential for the Church (Universal) in an age of self-gratification, self-centeredness, and self-deification.

As a spiritual discipline, Lent directs us to make time for recalibration; investing in an investigation of the heart, and the renewing of the mind – the seat of the soul; the seat of thought.

Minus the mindless religious exertions, and its works righteousness trappings, Lent sponsors sanctification, and regeneration.

Working through a basic Protestant liturgy with my homeschoolers for years, has highlighted for me Lent’s ability to ground us deeper in biblical literacy, and theological orthodoxy.

Another aspect of this as an educator is the fun it brings into the home. We can do this together. Feast together. Examine our hearts, hold each other accountable before the Wisdom of God (John 16:19) and walk in the light together (1 John).

It’s not all pancakes, fasting, or avoiding meaningless resolutions.

Music appreciation plays a role too.

Lent and Mozart’s Rex Tremendae are a match made for heaven.

Take a few minutes to listen through one of the most significant pieces of music ever written by human hands:

https://rodlampard.com/2018/03/23/mozart-for-lent-rex-tremendae/

“Loving God, you create us from the dust of the earth; may these ashes be for us a sign of our repentance, and our mortality, and a reminder that only by the cross do we receive eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.”

“Create in me a clean heart, o Lord.”

“A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

“Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.” 

_______________________________________________________________

Rod Lampard, 2024.