lent isn't a time for navel gazing

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Leviticus 16:29-18:30. We read about God teaching Moses, who in turn taught the Hebrews, about denying themselves.

And today we deny ourselves, too. It's Ash Wednesday, the traditional beginning of Lent. During Lent, we give up something so as to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter.

This is a good lesson, because it teaches us the value of denying ourselves. We are taught, by Jesus Himself, to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. But go back to the meaning of Lent, here. We don't just deny ourselves for the heck of it. We aren't masochists. We deny ourselves in order to PREPARE ourselves for the future celebration.

We are preparing ourselves for heaven.

God, thanks for calling us to deny ourselves... and for teaching us why.