From Epiphany to Lent

Monday - John 18:15-18,25-27
Tuesday - John 18:28-38
Ash Wednesday - Luke 18:9-14
Thursday – John 17:1-8
Friday: John 17:9-19
Saturday: John 17:20-26

This week we transition from the Epiphany season to Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday. And strangely, the Daily Office lectionary switches chapter 17 and 18 in John's Gospel, giving us ch. 18 first, followed by ch. 17. What's going on here?

In chapter 18, we see the contrast between Peter's anxiety, his concern for self-preservation, and Jesus's calm yet uncompromising stand for the truth. Peter cannot let go of his instinct for self-preservation because he fears the darkness of death. Facing death, Jesus is calm and trusting enough to think, not of himself, but of Pilate. In chapter 17, we see Jesus praying for his disciples, knowing his fate, and knowing the certain opposition that his community of disciples will face. "And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one" (Jn 17:11).

Lent is often a time of self-denial, of purging, sort of like a colon cleanse (Ugh!) In other words, the focus can be on the self. But Jesus's "Lent" was a march toward Jerusalem, into the heart of enemy territory. Jesus's "Lent" was a time of proclamation and challenge. For some, the cleansing of self is absolutely necessary for their spiritual health. But perhaps for others, a good Lenten discipline might need to be a proclamation, a challenge to wrong and injustice. Personally, I'm wondering if this should be my Lenten discipline. What should yours be? Whether your Lenten discipline is one of self-cleansing, or of proclamation, or some combination of both, I wish you a most blessed Lent.