Just a quick post on this year anniversary of my arrival in Buenos Aires (March 14)! I am enjoying a weekend retreat getaway in a riverside town just outside the city, called Tigre (about two hours away by bus & train). I found a B & B right on the river and I am looking forward to a couple “tranquilo” days of rest, reflection, and retreat.
Today is the last Saturday of summer here. And it is giving us one last summer blast of heat. One news headline read, "La Ciudad es un Horno" (The City Is an Oven). Tomorrow the temps drop about 10 degrees celsius. Our clocks also "fall back" tonight. So, the time difference from California is now back to 4-hours.
I continue to seek ways posture my heart during this season of Lent. I recently found a very helpful reflection from Christine Sine, “What Lent Is preparing Us For? You can check out the entire reflection on her blog - click here. But, here is the essence of what she says...
“First I want to emphasize that Lent is not about preparation for the celebration of Stations of the Cross much as I enjoy participating in that experience. Nor is it even primarily a preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, even though this is the pivotal celebration of our faith.
“Lent is primarily about preparing us to live in the world that Christ’s resurrection brought into being - the kingdom of God world - what I like to call God’s resurrection created world. It is about preparing us to follow the one who “transfigured the world with the Spirit of life.”
This provides a helpful and important shift in understanding the purpose of Lent. Our intentional focus and disciplines during Lent are to clear away the clutter that keeps us from living more fully into God’s Kingdom in this world. Sine goes on to say, “The disciplines that we establish during this season are for that purpose. They are intended to break down the barriers that inhibit us from dwelling fully in this world. It is intended as a time to put to death those parts of our lives that are not centered on God and God’s purposes.”
June 11, 2023: Proper 5 (10) (Year A)
2 years ago
3 comments:
Hey Dave, glad to see that all is well. Really cool thought about Lent, and living in the Kingdom of God. This last month I have been reminded that the forgiveness that God offers isn't simply to restore us to where we were when we came to Him, but to restore us to the way things were suppose to be.
I have always approached Lent, and Spiritual Disciplines for that matter as a time of sacrifice to be ended with celebration, and while a nifty notion, it misses the heart of it all.
Living in a world that has been reclaimed by the blood of the Lamb, takes work, takes sacrifice on our part to continually stay close to the voice of God, so that we may constantly work to shed the old man, and to stay close to heart of God.
Enjoy your week of rest and reflection.
Awesome thoughts. May you be blessed as you reflect on this last year and as you seek to be more drawn to Him. Peace!
Happy one year!!! I hope you have a wonderful time at the B&B.
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