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Lent: Proceed Slowly.

Some very wise words for all of us as we begin the season of Lent:

Lent cannot be separated from Easter. It is a journey toward Easter, a 40-day preparation for a feast. Easter, with its celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, is also a celebration of our participation in Easter, in resurrection and new life. This has been symbolized historically by the practice, in some places, of reserving baptisms for Easter, and using Lent as a preparation not only for Pascha but for baptism. This is not a wise practice, but the theological logic behind it make sense: We have been baptized into the new life of the kingdom, but we are frequently forgetful of the life we have in Jesus and need to be restored. Lent has been part of the church’s assistance in keeping us focused on the life we have in Jesus. Each year, we are given 40 days to refocus on the resurrection, to purge out the old leaven of hypocrisy, sloth, and nominalism, and to renew our baptisms.

— Peter Leithart

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Yes, Advent and Lent are similar in this way: they are both “transparent seasons” through which we anticipate the future of God. Lent can truly be Lent when we don’t just focus on the letting-go, purging-out and giving-up, but to see them as means to clear our eyes and senses to something far greater and more important.

In Lent, we are called to look through the season for things that is to come, by the One who is with us.