Celebrate new life, remember the old
As we begin Lent, nature invites us to reflect on two words: “New life.” Buds will soon bloom into colorful flowers, trees will be clothed in fresh green leaves, and the air will be filled with sweet, fragrant scents. This season of renewal calls us to embrace the newness that God offers.
The Kingdom of God reveals a completely new way of living. As St. Paul tell us, “In Christ, we are a new creation. All things have become new.” We cannot escape, nor should we neglect, the essential newness of the Christian life.
This newness is a cause for great joy. In Christ, we find freedom from guilt, forgiveness of sin, hope beyond death, purpose in service, belonging in the family of God, and the joy of worship. The old life of loneliness, self-destruction, fear, and despair in the face of death is gone.
While the Kingdom of God brings undeniable newness, it also holds a rich history and heritage that must be cherished. Just when we expect Jesus to do away with the “old life” completely, He uses metaphors to show us how much He values the old, too.
Jesus doesn’t want either the new wine or the old wineskin to be lost. He identified with John the Baptist, seeking ways to honor the ministry of his forerunner, not by dismissing the past, but by building upon it.
So, this Lent, remember your past and value history. Yet, keep your eyes fixed on the new horizons God is unveiling—something old and something new. When you unite both in your spirit, the world will see the joy that flows from within you.