St. John’s Episcopal Church
Tallahassee, FL

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

Introduction: The Big Question

So today, I’m going to do something a little different.
Today, I want to help you get ready for something.
And that something . . . is Lent.

Lent is just around the corner.
Not today, not tomorrow, but soon.

And I have just one question for you:
Are you going to do Lent this year?

Not just know about it.
Not just show up for it.
But actually lean into this season.

Because I think you should.
And I think you might actually love it.

What Is Lent? And Why Does Worship Change?

For those who might not know,
Lent is the 40-day season leading up to Easter,
a time of penitence, preparation, and prayer
that Christians have practiced for 1,700 years.

And if you do Lent right,
it changes you—
starting with the way we worship together.

So when you come to church on Ash Wednesday,
you’ll notice things have changed.
That’s intentional.

The colors will be different.
Purple, the color of penitence,
will adorn our sanctuary.

Our finest chalices are put away,
and we drink from simple wooden cups, 
lovingly made by our own James Kummer, 
a reminder that this is a season of humility.

Our shiny crosses are veiled. 
Our music changes in tone. 
We even refrain from the word alleluia—
the most joyful word in our worship lexicon—
and set it aside until the Great Vigil of Easter.

On the first Sunday of Lent,
we’ll pray with The Great Litany,
a long, winding, sung prayer,
one of the oldest in the English speaking Church—
asking for God’s mercy.

And every other Sunday in Lent,
we won’t ease into confession.
We start with it at the beginning
naming our need for grace right up front.

None of these changes are random.
They shape how we experience Lent together 
because this season isn’t just an idea—
it’s something we practice.

The Joseph Story: What Lent Is Really About

In today’s Old Testament lesson, 
we hear about Joseph.

You remember Joseph—
the kid with the colorful coat,
the dreamer with the big mouth,
the one whose brothers threw him into a pit
and sold him into slavery.

If anyone ever had a Lent,
it was Joseph.

His whole life was one long season
of being stripped down,
tossed into hard places,
forced to wait,
and wondering if God would ever show up.

But here’s the thing about Joseph:
God never abandoned him.

Every pit, every prison, every setback—
God was there.
Working.
Redeeming.
Slowly bringing Joseph to something bigger,
something better,
something he never could have seen coming.

And that?
That’s what Lent is for.

It’s not about suffering for suffering’s sake.
It’s about clearing the way for God to do something new.

Why You Should Try Lent

So here’s my pitch:
You should try Lent this year.

Not because you need to be better.
Not because you need to prove something.
Not because God is waiting to be impressed.

You should try it
because you might just meet God in it.

If you strip away the noise . . .
if you stop distracting yourself . . . 
if you step away from all the things
you use to numb yourself,
maybe you’ll find God waiting for you
in a way you never expected.

How to Actually Do Lent

So what does it mean to “do” Lent?

It’s not just about “giving something up.”
It’s about making space.

For some, that means letting go of something
that clutters your life, 
not because God needs you to suffer,
but because you need to know you can live without it.

For others, it means taking something on: 
a small daily prayer,
a moment of stillness,
an act of generosity,
a habit that makes you more aware of God’s presence.

Or maybe, just maybe,
Lent is about paying attention.
Not giving anything up,
not adding anything in,
just deciding that for forty days,
you’re going to watch for God a little more closely—
and trust that God is already watching for you.

Your Guide to Lent: Grab One Today

If you’re wondering how to start,
we have something that can help.

Our 2025 Guide to Lent is ready for you.

Inside, you’ll find:
An overview of Lent and why we do it.
A full schedule of Lenten services, classes, and gatherings.
Ways to shape your Lenten practice—
whether you’re giving something up or taking something on.
And a whole lot more.

It’s all in there. So grab one today.

Read it.
Mark a few things.
Make a plan.
And step into this season with intention.

Because the more you put into Lent,
the more Lent will give back to you, 
and let’s be honest . . . 
when I say that, what I really mean is 
the more God will give back to you.

The Most Honest Prayer You Can Pray in Lent

Now, I know some of you are sitting here thinking, 
“Yeah, but Fr. Lonnie, I’ve tried this before, 
and I always fail.”

Good.

That’s why—right here right now—
I want to teach you a prayer that will serve you well.

Here it goes. Repeat after me:

“Well . . .
that did not go as planned.”

Because y’all . . . that’s Lent.

You’ll try to pray more,
but you’ll get distracted.

You’ll try to be patient,
but someone will cut you off in traffic.

You’ll try to give something up,
but one week in, you’ll be standing in your kitchen,
cramming cookies into your mouth like a raccoon
who just found an open dumpster.

And in those moments,
you could beat yourself up.
Or . . . .
you could say, “Well, that didn’t go as planned.”
And then laugh, let it go, and fall back into grace.

Because if Lent is about anything,
it’s about learning that God’s love for you
does not hinge on your ability to get everything right.

That . . . is why you should try it.

Conclusion: The Invitation

So take some time this week.
Start thinking about Lent now.

Not as a burden.
Not as a test.
But as a gift.

Grab a Lenten Guide.
Talk to God.
Decide on a practice.

And when Lent comes,
give it a shot . . . 
step on into it.

Not because you are ready,
but because God is.

Amen.