This last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. In the liturgical calendar, Lent is the time when we remember Jesus’ suffering and death as we prepare for the great celebration of Easter. Usually Lent is a time where we think about things to give up and how we can choose into suffering. Does that sound… hard?

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to do Lent during a pandemic, when life is already hard. When browsing upcoming Sunday readings for a Lectio, I was drawn to the first reading’s story of Noah. When studying the passage, I was completely floored by the connection of God’s covenant with Noah to Jesus’ suffering and death, and what this all means for Lent.

In this episode, I dig into Noah’s story and look at the bigger story behind Lent. I also share some practical ideas of how to interact with Lent, if you’re in survival mode this year. Or, if you’re in a different place, also some ideas for using the lens of the pandemic to fast, pray, and give.