This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Lent, a season of reflection, repentance, and making space for God in our lives.

Lent also becomes about contradictions. The way of Jesus is counter-intuitive. At the cross, we see Death as the way to life; we are called to lose our lives in order to save them; God uses foolish things to confound the wise; Christ is lifted up only after he lays His life down. 

The way to the cross will always mess with us as it offers us a better way to be human. Lent is about learning how to live in desert places while holding on to the reality of God's steadfast love.