After a rousing first day of Lent Madness 2020, in which Thomas More routed James the Less 68% to 32% amid heavy voting (over 10,000 votes cast), we’re on to day two. And we’ve established, once and for all, that less is not more. At least in this year’s edition of the Saintly Smackdown.
Today, you’re invited to gird your loins for a battle of Biblical proportions as two Scriptural saints face off. Now, you may be aware that this year’s bracket features a quartet of Elizabeths, one in each quadrant: The Biblical Elizabeth, Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth the New Martyr, and Elizabeth Frye. Will the four Elizabeths make up the Faithful Four? Only time and your votes will tell (though the oddsmakers in Vegas are dubious).
Today we encounter the first of the four Elizabeths, she of the Bible, who takes on Andrew the apostle.
But before you read, reflect, and vote (hopefully in that order), we wanted to share an article about Lent Madness that appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune. Partly because it’s a nice article about this little devotion of ours, but mostly because we like cities named for saints.
Also, note that tomorrow is the ONLY non-weekday vote of Lent Madness. Margery Kempe will square off against Eustace. So don’t forget to head over here to make your pick.
Okay, enough blathering on. Time to see whether Elizabeth or Andrew will be cast out of Lent Madness 2020!
Now is the Time
Dear friends in Christ,
Every year, even Lent Madness pauses on this one day. On Ash Wednesday, we set aside our silliness as we are reminded of our mortality and our need of salvation. This year, more than ever, our world needs Lent and its invitation to return to Jesus Christ.
We live in a world that is gripped by fear and hatred. Too many of our national leaders seem intent on steering to the low road. Time seems to
be in short supply as jobs, families, and various electronic gizmos compete for our attention. Now more than ever, we need Lent.
Lent is, above all else, an invitation to turn away from those things which keep us from following Jesus — and to turn toward those things which draw us closer to our Lord and savior. As St. Paul says, “Now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!”
Now is the time for us to renounce fear, to reject hatred, and to take the more difficult high road. Now is the time to make space in our lives for prayer, study, and worship. Now is the time to look carefully at our lives and to open up our hearts to change. Thanks be to God, the church has given us an entire season to do just these things.
On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our mortality. It might seem gloomy, but in fact it is an invitation to savor this earthly life as a precious gift and to live it well. Jesus Christ wants us to have life and have it abundantly, and Ash Wednesday reminds us that we don’t really have that long to get to it. So let’s do that, shall we?
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