Our Excuse to be better.

Another lent has begun.  It kind of sneaks up on us every year, it seems like only yesterday we were opening Christmas presents.  Then all of a sudden we have crosses traced on our foreheads and we are told how we should turn away from sin and be faithful to the ways of Jesus.

Lent gives us all the opportunity to try to be a little better, to make some changes in our lives, to be a better person and to prepare ourselves for Easter Sunday.

It might be to… argue a little less with our brothers and sisters, maybe to listen a little better to our parents, or to give something up, or to do something for someone.   .   

Lent is our EXCUSE TO DO BETTER.    And all of us sometimes need that excuse.  To offer up our sacrifices to Jesus, who offered up his life for us. 

When we think of Lent in that way, it makes it all seem worth while. 

If Jesus could offer up his life for us, it really isn’t that hard for us to deny ourselves some of our favorite things, for just a little while.  And just maybe we will continue our sacrifice even after Easter Sunday.

Being faithful to the gospel means to be faithful to ourselves and turning away from the world for just a little while and turning our selves toward Jesus and the way he led his life.    We need to show compassion and love for others, not to be angry with them, or call them names, or make fun of them, or be impatient with them.  If they have hurt us we must learn to forgive them.  Jesus tells us that until we do these things we cannot be his friend.  Lent is time for all of us to grow closer to the ways of Jesus. 

None of things that He asks us to do are easy. 

It is easier to be angry with someone who has hurt us, than to forgive them.

It is easier for us to show our impatience, than to try to understand another’s problem.

As we begin our journey through Lent this year…. let us try to find a way to follow Jesus a little closer,  and let Lent be our   EXCUSE TO BE A LITTLE BETTER.