Dear friends in Christ,
On this one day a year, even Lent Madness pauses to reflect on our life, our blessings, and our mortality. The entire season of Lent is an invitation to recommit to following Jesus. This day, Ash Wednesday, is a poignant reminder that life is short. We are meant to savor our earthly life and to live it well.
At the end of life, few people regret not having worked more, nor do they wish they had spent more money on stuff. In fact, end of life regrets usually revolve around love. "I wish I had spent more time with my family. I wish I had forgiven the person who wronged me. I wish I had been a more faithful Christian."
When we kneel before the altar and hear the words, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," we are reminded that we are mortal. We should not delay our decision to repent, to live more fully, to follow Jesus more faithfully.
Aside from the ridiculous competition and constant silliness of Lent Madness, we hope everyone who takes part will notice something about each of the saints. Every single one of the saints was a flawed human. You might be used to seeing them in stained glass or in marble, but they were living, breathing, messed up people not so different from us. And yet, each one of these saints managed to allow God's grace to work in them such that Christ's light shone brightly in their lives. They were witnesses to the world of the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
Over the course of this year's Lent Madness, you will meet 32 new saintly companions. Perhaps they will inspire you to follow Jesus in new ways, so that you can be a witness of the Good News of God in Christ. Perhaps you will invite the saints to pray for you, for they are also companions with us in our earthly pilgrimage. You see, beneath the silliness of the saintly smackdown, there lies a brighter, deeper truth in God's grace at work in the world.
This Lenten season, we invite you to draw closer to our Lord Jesus. Give up those things which keep you away from Jesus. Take on those things that bring you closer to Jesus. We hope Lent Madness is helpful on your journey.
We wish you every blessing in this Lenten season.
Tim+ Scott+
99 comments on “Lent is an Invitation”
This will be my first year with "Lent Madness", I'm looking forward to learning more about the Saints-after all, we are all called to be Saints!
A bevy of women saints have been in my life for a long time. I've written their prayers, meditated with them, painted them and now am creating a retreat: Kissed by God: Holy Women Create! Even including information on how lots of them got into trouble, eg. the Inquisition - Joan of Arc…I look forward to 32 days of Lent with you and the saints, our foremothers and fathers...
Thank you! That was the perfect way to begin this season of self-reflection.
I would say "Every single one of the saints with the notable exception of Our Lady was a flawed human."
IIRC, Our Lady is, by Lent Madness rule, off-limits. So we need not concern ourselves with Immaculate Conception.
Having stepped down as a Celebrity Blogger, my Lent will be exceedingly less "mad" this year compared to the past three years. I'm grateful to be playing from the sidelines but cheering you and all the saints on just the same. And if a long shot saint improbably pulls ahead, you can be sure I'll do my best to help the dark horse win.
"Forward Ho", I can't remember really ever looking forward to Lent, thank you for the inspiring words and lighting the desire to learn more on this faith-filled journey!
Got my ashes today at noon, and am ready for this thing to lift off!!!
I think last year was my first with Lent Madness, and I'm still elated that my fellow Methodist, Charles Wesley, won the Golden Halo! Thank you for this first post, SEC. My home church, Christ Church United Methodist in Manhattan (NYC), has two series today; we attended the one at 12:30 PM and have been wearing big black crosses on our foreheads ever since. Before my 15-year service as a hospital chaplain, no Methodist church I ever heard of was imposing ashes at the Ash Wed. service. I learned to "do" ashes at the hospital and found the practice growing in meaning. Now many Methodist churches are using them, and I hope others are finding it a blessing. A blessed Lent to all!
So happy to be here. I'm grateful to Heather McCance for the link.
Good one. Thanks.
Thank you for this wonderful message!
Keep a holy Lent. ✝️
Beautiful beginning words and ideas.....good thoughts deserve a second run!
Ready for this year’s Lent Madness have done well the past few years
Excellent. Blessings on this Holy Day.
Blessings to all for a holy Lent!
Excellent and loving reminder of our mortality and reasons for observing Lent.
Kent Madness is here to remind me to take time off and pray. Thank you.
Blessings to all in this new Lenten season for 2019.
Another year of Lent Madness to begin.
Thank you to Tim and Scott and all who participated in making this another year of learning.
This is my 4th or 5th year.
Your words have lifted the worry from me. Especially the worry I have about our priest and her helpers in the 10 degree weather giving ashes to go at the train station.
Happy 10th anniversary.
Well said. I never really thought of the saints as flawed... they're SAINTS after all. It's a good thing to keep in front of me this season.
Ome’s mind thinks of Saints as having the ability to do God’s work, yet not have the inner power and discipline to rise above the human frailties and temptations. One is apt to see the flaws before they did God’s work, and be motivated that one can overcome one’s weaknesses and flaws, and do good. But the reality is that many Saints have done many good things while having blemishes. I suspect that we will be tested when we vote this season to vote for the good and be concerned more about the blemishes at times in Theo there Saint we do not vote for. But in a a Lenten Madness vote its a choice of voting for “the more of two goods “ as opposed to a political election of voting for “the lesser of evils.” That’s a transformation of looking for the good that others can do and not the flaws within. If one were to review the twelve apostles one can see that Jesus saw just that.
A time to repent so we can rejoice.
A sobering reminder of how we all are eventually dust. Today, I was reminded of my mortality when I read of the death of another hs classmate--something that becomes more regular as the years slip by. I always thank God for that great cloud of witnesses who even in death have inspired and supported me lo these many years.
Ten years already. May we all strive for a Holy Lent and growth in our understanding of what each of us needs to continue our journey with Christ.
Amen! and let the journey begin.
This is my first time to participate. Where do I vote? Thank you
Don, you're in the right place, the voting starts tomorrow. There will be a post with a short introduction of each saint and then a vote button at the bottom. Welcome to the seasonal saintly smackdown!
Great way to start off Ash Wednesday. Thank you. And also thank you for the beautiful printable Bracket chart. It will grace my home office for 40 days and 40 nights (plus the Sundays, of course)
Happy Lent
Your message this morning is a great beginning to Lent. Thank you!
Again, I've been challenged to stop, look, and listen. Thanks
So another year has gone by. I am looking forward to this round of Lent Madness.
Looking forward to the Lent Madness journey this year. Thank you for additional the enjoyment of Lent!