Lent: A season of love Dt 26:4-10; Pm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13 The season of Lent is a time for contemplation and reflection. We are meant to use this time to grow closer to God through prayer and acts of service. Over time, though, Lent has become a season when people hyper-focus on their sins and their faults rather than on God. Lent has transformed into a season of self-flagellation and self-condemnation for many, so much so that many people I speak to despise the season of Lent and certainly do not look forward to it. On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded to “repent and believe in the Gospels.” The term “repent” is often misunderstood to mean something like “confess your sins.” Yet, the word “repent” in the Gospels is not inherently connected to sin. “Repent” means to change one’s mind. It is a call to actively change one’s heart and life. Recognizing and trying to atone for past wrongdoings can be a part of this change, but it is not the main event. It is merely a small step on the way to the main event, which is the new life that Easter brings. Ultimately, the season of Lent is about love. The readings for today emphasize this in a subtle way. The book of Deuteronomy takes center stage in our Old Testament reading and influences the Gospel reading, as well. This is the subtle way we are invited to think about love as the season of Lent begins. One might wonder why I say this. Well, Deuteronomy features a lot of love language. It explicitly introduces the idea of love as part of our duty on this earth. The most well-known passage being that of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, where the Israelites are commanded to love God. This command to love God becomes the frame for the laws given in chapters 7-10:11 and will consistently appear throughout chapters 12-28 (13:4, 19:9, 23:6). This means that love of God is at the heart of the law in Deuteronomy chapters 12-28. This is not the only love that the Israelites are commanded to perform. They are also commanded to love the resident alien (10:18) and are reminded of God’s love for Israel (7:8). Deuteronomy is also one of the most significant Old Testament books for the New Testament. It is the second most cited or referenced book, second only to the book of Psalms. Today’s Gospel harkens back to Israel’s past, specifically to the laws given in the book of Deuteronomy. The 40 days of testing, of course, reminds us of the 40 years the Israelites were tested in the wilderness (Dt 8:2). The author of the Gospel says that Jesus does not eat for these 40 days, which connects him most strongly to Moses (Dt 9:9), but to Elijah as well (1 Kgs 19:18). Jesus counters all of Satan’s offers by quoting the book of Deuteronomy (in order: Dt 8:3; 6:13 and 10:20; 6:16). Essentially, remembering the teachings of Deuteronomy saved Jesus from giving into Satan’s temptation. Jesus loved God by remembering God’s commands, which is exactly what Deuteronomy calls readers to do. The idea of remembering is one of the themes at the heart of Deuteronomy. The Israelites are reminded of where they came from, the struggles they faced and the way God was there to help them. They are also reminded of the ways in which they failed and are encouraged to remember God’s commands so that they do not fail again. To love God is to remember God’s goodness and the commands he gave to ensure that we are loving others as he loves us. Remembering and loving are not simply mental or emotional exercises. They must be put into action. So, perhaps this Lent we can take a break from being hyper-critical of ourselves. Instead, we can focus on loving God and others. What are some new ways you can show your love of God? What acts of service could you do to show love for others? May this season of Lent help you to grow in love of God, neighbor and, yes, even yourself.
About the Author Kate Oxsen is an assistant professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union.