This month we begin our journey to the cross with the season of Lent. We’ve followed our Lord’s life from His birth, His circumcision and naming, His epiphany to the wise men, His Baptism in the Jordan, and finally to the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus gave us a preview of His glory. Now we follow Him into the valley of humiliation where He is tempted by the devil, where He prepares to submit Himself to death, even death on a cross.

Lent provides for us once again, an opportunity for reflection and meditation. We meditate on our Lord’s passion. We meditate on our sinful condition. From the ashes of Ash Wednesday through the forty days of Lent, we’re reminded of just who we are—fallen human beings. But we’re reminded of who the Christ is as well—God who came down into the dust of humanity, who lived our life over, who dirtied Himself with our sins, not His own, and took them to the cross to put them to death.

Our Lord’s descent to the cross reminds us of the realities of our humanity as well. Our entire lives are a journey toward the cross, toward death. In our life together as Christians, we prepare ourselves for that horrible moment when we must submit to death, the wages of our sin. We prepare as together we hear God’s Word, as we receive the eternal gifts of our Lord Christ at His Font and at His Table. Knowing we are on the road to death also prepares us for the times in life when we walk through our own valley of humiliation, for our own temptations and trials. In many respects, life is like one big Lenten season.

In your own journey to the cross, look to Calvary, where sin, death and the devil are conquered. Return to the font of your Baptism, where Jesus sends the devil packing. Come to our Lord’s Table where your Savior lowers Himself still for your salvation. Listen to the sweet words of forgiveness spoken by Christ’s command and authority. Ponder His passion and contemplate His compassion!

We know that Lent isn’t the end. It wasn’t for Jesus. It isn’t for you. He suffered that you might not suffer eternally. He died that you might not die eternally. He rose from the dead that you might also rise and live eternally. The path to glory passes through suffering and death. It was true for our Lord and it’s true for you and me. That’s why our Lord’s passion and resurrection prepare us not merely for death, but for eternity. That’s what our life together under the cross is all about, preparing for eternity.

At our Lenten midweek services this year we will focus on prayer and the word, meditating upon the Introits for the season of Lent. The Introit is the psalm sung after the Absolution. Introit means “he enters in” and was originally the point in which the pastor entered into the church and the people assembled for worship. The Introit has since taken on a slightly different purpose. Typically it sets the tone and theme for the day. The Sundays in Lent each bear a Latin name taken from the first word of each Sunday’s Introit. Here are the themes for each week: Invocabit “He shall call” (Lent 1), Reminiscere “Remember” (Lent 2), Oculi “My eyes” (Lent 3), Laetare “Rejoice” (Lent 4), Judica “Vindicate” (Lent 5).