Lenten Lockdown

Lent is traditionally a time for forgoing the pleasure of chocolates, sweets, red wine, or other enjoyments for 40 days. Such practices bring to mind and emulate in a smaller way the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus experienced during his 40 days in the wilderness. Some people choose to give more money than usual to charities or to attend Lenten courses to reflect on the theology of the season. By going into the wilderness, Jesus put himself into voluntary lockdown with only his Father God, and no other contact with the human world. Jesus later suffered, as one of us, at Calvary, died, and rose again so that we might live forever. 

This year we have been given the opportunity to observe the season of Lent in a far more meaningful period of sacrifice than mere tokenism. We are in lockdown, suffering in order to limit the spread of a life-threatening disease so that millions might live. It is an opportunity to suffer with thanksgiving and give wherever we can. The recent drought in my country, disastrous in many ways, taught us many lessons and I believe we emerged wiser and stronger.  I thank the Lord for that, and I believe we should praise God for the certain knowledge that, although forcibly or voluntarily isolated, our triune God is with us in this present lockdown and as we look toward Easter, we will emerge wiser and stronger, trusting in Christ's promise of new life. 

Keith Honeyman (South Africa)