The call of Lent
Unfortunately some Christians live as though the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ never happened. Our lives become absorbed in the day-to-day experiences of life. We focus on name-brand clothing, the color of our houses, the size of our bank account, the year and make of our automobile, the prestige in which others hold us, and the symbols of our own power. We too easily forget our Maker and Redeemer, replacing God with things and ambition. Lent is the season that does something about this situation. It calls us back to God, back to basics, back to the spiritual realities of life. It calls on us to put to death the sin and the indifference we have in our hearts toward God and our fellow persons. And it beckons us to enter once again into the joy of the Lord — the joy of a new life born out of a death to the old life. This is what Ash Wednesday is all about — the fundamental change of life required of those who would die with Jesus and be raised to a new life in him.
Robert E. Webber from Ancient-Future Time
Robert E. Webber (1933-2007) was a theologian and writer known for his work on worship and the life and teaching of the early church. He has been a leading force in encouraging churches to consider the ancient liturgies and practices of the church throughout history and to see how we can learn from them and implement them in our present cultural and spiritual situation. He is credited with coming up with the term “ancient-future” as a way of realizing that the future life of the church is rooted in its connection with the truths that we can glean from the past.