Spring is so close! If you look closely, you’ll start to see plants poking up through the late-winter ground: crocuses, daffodil and tulip greens, and garden mums coming to life anew. Gardeners sometimes call this time of year the “greening of the gardens.” It’s exciting to see spring changes, like longer days, the warmer sun, birdsongs returning, and signs of growth all around us. Lent is a wonderful time for our own spiritual change and growth. It can be a time of our own “greening.”
The sacrifices and sufferings that we offer during Lent are meant for metanoia—a profound change of heart and mind. Like Abram in our first reading, we are called to go forth from our place of comfort and enter into a new land. It will be a place of growth where God will make of him a great nation (Genesis 12:1-4). Leaving behind his land, relatives, and home couldn’t have been easy. Considering change can be frightening, but growth cannot come from staying in our comfort zones. Notice that Abram was to make these changes so his future nation could become a blessing (Genesis 2:2).
In our Gospel reading, we go up to Mt. Tabor to witness the Transfiguration. Christ became radiant, showing his glorified self (Matthew 17:2). He gave His chosen few apostles a taste of His resurrection: the ultimate change. Did Christ’s resurrection come from nothing, out of thin air? No, it came from His sacrifice and suffering during His passion and death. We too can allow Christ to transfigure our sacrifices and sufferings. He has the power to breathe life into and resurrect them, transforming them into something beautiful.
How will this Lent change us? How is God calling us to metanoia and new life so that we can be a blessing to others? This week, consider one suffering that you would like God to resurrect. Is there one particular pattern of sin or a past hurt that you would like to offer Christ? Take some time in silent prayer and invite Him into that place so that He can redeem it.
Lord Jesus, change my heart this Lent. Help me trust in You when change seems frightening.