"Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" So says John the Baptist in today's gospel reading. Presumably these were joyful words, for when the Baptist repeats them to some of his followers on the next day, those followers leave John and go with Jesus. They have found something greater.
As we enter in the the season of Lent, I can't help but ponder the excitement those first disciples must have felt when they heard, "Here is the Lamb of God!" And then I contrast this with the austerity often associated with Lent.
No doubt "giving up" something can be a way of drawing closer to God. But often Lent seems to be dour for dour's sake. I wonder, wouldn't it be much better if, rather than thinking about what to "give up," we thought about what practices, activities, or changes in our lives might help us hear afresh the good news that "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
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