Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. (Genesis 18:27)

Tonight begins the forty-day season of Lent: forty days which correspond to the time Jesus spent in the desert wilderness being tempted by Satan. It is not a season we should enter into unadvisedly or lightly, for this is the most important part of the Christian year. Here we encounter our faith in all its fullness: in all its depth and height, in all its darkness and ligh, in all its pain and glory.

Lent is a somber time, a time for reflection and growth, a time to change our ways and deepen our commitment. Our Lord entered into suffering and death during this period on our behalf. The least we can do is enter into the spiritual demands of the season for Him.

This Lenten season will carry us t…