Lent is a time of penitence, but a Lutheran observance of Lenten penitence does not mean merely shifting our self-absorption (which plagues us all year long!) from preoccupation with pleasure to preoccupation with our sins. Rather, we seek to shift our eyes from self altogether and instead behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

The Ten Commandments clearly call us to repentance. Historically, though, the One who issued these commands to love is the Savior of the Israelites: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Ex 19:4).