Lent, Self-denial and Living Life

Read Mark 8.34-38; Matthew 6.2-6, 16-21

Ash Wednesday

Lent is a great ancient Christian tradition and a favourite of any Christian who likes to dip into the monastic custom of "going without" for the sake of Christ. But as much as self-denial and abstinent commitment can be a good and worthy endeavour, they can quickly become just another way to puff oneself up; self-denial can be a way to proudly show the world just how much of a martyr we are as we give up certain pleasures in pursuit of Christ.