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預苦期（大齋期）是基督徒在復活節前預備心靈、操練信仰的時期，從聖灰日（2025年3月5日）開始，為期40天。這段日子讓我們與基督同行，默想祂為我們成就的救恩，體會祂的愛、溫柔、忍耐、勇氣與孤寂，並學習在苦難與試煉中堅持信靠神，得勝試探。
在這段時期，我們不僅反思個人生命的挑戰，也默想基督的苦難。人生難免經歷種種困境，如財務壓力、健康問題、人際破裂、至親離世，甚至內心的空虛與不滿足，這些都是實在的痛苦。然而，當我們思想基督的道路——祂被門徒誤解、被宗教領袖逼迫、無枕之地、最終承受十架之苦並與天父分離——我們便能看見，苦難在神的救贖計畫中並非無意義。正如希伯來書所說：「他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。」（來12:2）
雅各書 1:2-4 提醒我們：「我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。」苦難雖然不易承受，但在基督裡，我們知道這是信心被熬煉、生命被塑造的過程。每一個挑戰都是神鍛鍊我們的機會，使我們更加成熟，學習全然倚靠祂。
默想苦難，也讓我們思想罪的問題。雅各書 1:12-15 提醒我們：「忍受試探的人是有福的，因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕，這是主應許給那些愛他之人的。人被試探，不可說『我是被神試探』，因為神不能被惡試探，他也不試探人。但各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。私慾既懷了胎，就生出罪來；罪既長成，就生出死來。」在苦難中要學習忍耐，而面對罪時則要警醒，不被私慾誘惑，落入試探的陷阱。苦難可能來自外在環境，而罪則源於我們內心的私慾。因此，我們要倚靠主得勝，讓聖靈潔淨我們的心思意念，使我們能夠站立得穩，持守信仰。
在預苦期中，讓我們一同默想基督為我們受苦、釘身十架的愛，並預備自己進入祂復活生命的更新。這段時間，透過省察、悔改與禱告，我們重新聚焦於與神的關係。當聖靈光照我們時，我們可以試著放下某些生命中的追求（如物質的豐裕、舒適的享受）、習慣（如沉溺於社交媒體、等待別人先主動關心我們），或已擁有的事物（如地位、既定的生活方式），讓我們的心歸向主，更敏銳於祂的帶領，使生命更加貼近基督，活出蒙神喜悅的生活。
Lenten Discipline and Renewal
Lent is a season for Christians to prepare their hearts and exercise their faith before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025) and lasts for 40 days. This period invites us to walk with Christ, meditate on the salvation He accomplished for us, and reflect on His love, gentleness, patience, courage, and solitude. Through this, we learn to persist in trusting God amid suffering and trials, overcoming temptations along the way.
During this time, we not only reflect on our personal challenges but also contemplate the suffering of Christ. Life inevitably brings hardships—financial pressures, health issues, broken relationships, the loss of loved ones, or even inner emptiness and dissatisfaction. These pains are real. However, when we consider Christ’s journey—misunderstood by His disciples, persecuted by religious leaders, having no place to lay His head, ultimately enduring the agony of the cross and separation from the Father—we come to realize that suffering is not meaningless in God's redemptive plan. As the book of Hebrews states:
"For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
James 1:2-4 reminds us:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Suffering is difficult to endure, but in Christ, we recognize it as a process of refining our faith and shaping our lives. Each challenge becomes an opportunity for God to strengthen us, leading us toward maturity and teaching us to rely fully on Him.
Reflecting on suffering also compels us to confront the issue of sin. James 1:12-15 warns us:
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
We must learn perseverance in suffering and remain vigilant against sin, resisting the lure of temptation. Suffering often comes from external circumstances, while sin arises from our inner desires. Therefore, we must rely on the Lord for victory, allowing the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts and minds so that we may stand firm in our faith.
During Lent, let us meditate on Christ’s suffering and His sacrificial love on the cross, preparing ourselves for the renewal of His resurrection life. Through self-examination, repentance, and prayer, we can refocus our relationship with God. As the Holy Spirit enlightens us, we may consider letting go of certain pursuits (such as material wealth and personal comfort), habits (such as excessive social media use or waiting for others to reach out to us first), or even possessions (such as status or familiar lifestyles). By turning our hearts to the Lord and becoming more sensitive to His guidance, we align our lives more closely with Christ, living in a way that pleases God.