Greetings from The President
The Christian season of Lent has been underemphasized in many evangelical circles in recent history, but I believe there is much this liturgical period preceding Easter can offer. More than just a 40-day period of abstaining from coffee or chocolate (or whatever else might tempt you), Lent is a meaningful liturgical season of anticipating the focal point of our faith: Christ’s sacrifice for us and the universal hope which his resurrection represents. Lent can be a beautifully reflective time for us to quiet our hearts and lean in to the spectacular reality of the cross, the crown and the empty tomb. It’s a time of focused prayer and simple living, contemplating life in the desolate desert but also the new, vibrant life Christ offers.
The mood of Lent can be beautifully captured through the arts, which are often cathartic expressions of longing, suffering, loneliness, love, death and rebirth. Art is a great chronicler both of the drama of human history and the aches of the human heart. In this spirit, the Biola University Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts presents the Lent Project: a 54-day aesthetic meditation on Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Each day will offer a guided reflection--though Scripture, words, poetry, music, film or visual art--to help us focus in on the beauty of Christ’s story. May you enjoy, share and be edified by this resource as we collectively reflect on the suffering and triumph of history’s great savior: Messiah Jesus Christ, the King.
— Barry H. Corey, President