“Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.” – Psalm 51:14
Psalm 51 is one of my favorites. Also known as the Miserere, it is a central penitential prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s a touchstone we can come back to again and again when we have sinned, when we feel the weight of our transgressions and those of the world in which we live. It’s one we can come back to frequently during Lent. All that said, I think it’s important to note that while we do focus on repentance, contrition, and penance during Lent, the point isn’t to linger too long in this place. After all, the point of Lent is to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, not to stay inside His empty tomb.
Psalm 51 guides us into this frame of mind: “Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:14). The aim of repentance is to return to the joy of being in right relationship with God. Also, it is God Himself who upholds us through the sacrifices and penances of Lent, giving us a “willing spirit” that can respond with the generosity and obedience needed to live Lent well. I don’t know about you, but I have often failed when I have approached my Lenten sacrifices without God’s grace, choosing to white-knuckle it with my own willpower. This was anything other than life-giving. Thankfully, there is a better way to live Lent.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus directs us: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” A yoke is a device that binds two oxen next to one another for work. The animals have to work together to accomplish their shared task, such as plowing a field. It increases the power of the plow when the two oxen pull the plow at the same time. When we yoke ourselves to Jesus, He aids us in our endeavors, including the sacrifices we make for Lent. That doesn’t mean we sit back and let Jesus do all the work; it means our efforts are “yoked” to Him. He takes the lead and we follow Him; He is with us in each and every step. That’s my plan this Lent: offer my sacrifices in union with Jesus, allowing Him to guide me through it and give me the grace of fortitude and temperance so I can live these next several weeks well.
Jesus, thank you for taking the lead this Lent. “Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name” (Psalm 31:3).