2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 21 – By Invitation

Think about the last time you were invited to go on a trip with a friend. Your friend was paying for the food, but you had to help drive. Your friend knew the way, but you had to bring the map. This doesn’t sound like any trip I was ever invited to. The guest isn’t supposed to work.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”; as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.” – Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

The Lord said: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” – Mark 8.34-9.1

Such is the trip we call our Great Lenten Journey. God invites us, but we must do some of the work to make the most of the trip. We aren’t just passengers. We are coworkers. Without our effort the trip fails. Without our effort Great Lent is just another calendar event.

Today we are reminded about the destination of our trip to the Cross. Christ knows the way. He has invited us to join Him. He even goes so far as to tell us exactly what part of the trip our responsibility is. We must carry our Cross if we want to join Him. He will carry His Cross.

It reminds me of the many backpacking trips I enjoyed when I was young. We all had to carry our own load, but the leader knew the way through the mountain pass. When we accepted the invitation, we accepted, knowing the work that was ahead of us.

No matter how difficult the hike was, we enjoyed being together. No matter how hard Great Lent gets, we will enjoy our time with Christ and each other, but only if we put in our effort. We had our rest yesterday and today we celebrate the Holy Cross.

Tomorrow, we begin another leg of our journey through Great Lent. We will need to trust that Christ knows the way. It won’t be easy, but it will be enjoyable because we will be with Christ. He invited us.

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