I am often asked, what is Lent? A brief description can be found on Google. “Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.” Lent is based on sacrifice, some sects of Christendom “choose to stop eating a favorite food or pursuing a favorite activity. You can also choose to do something instead. For example, say an extra prayer every day, go to Church twice a week, or read some scripture verses daily.” However, the key word found in the scriptures concerning Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness is fasting. Fasting (giving up food) was a common practice among early Christians as well as practiced by the Jews. It could last a day, three days or even a week and was mostly decided by an individual when they felt the need to draw closer to God. It would be a time of prayer and contemplation.
Although we do not formally recognize Lent in the Christian Church, there is nothing wrong with recognizing the 40 days before Easter with a commitment to draw closer to God. If a person would decide to give up something that would be a sacrifice for them during that period, it would be up to the individual who in turn would not make it known but would quietly proceed with the purpose that comes with it, i.e. drawing closer to God. I believe it would include prayer, scripture reading and going to church.
Some people ask me, what is Ash Wednesday? Again using Wikipedia I give this answer. “Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter.” Again the Christian Church does not participate in this event but it doesn’t mean that a person couldn’t set it aside as a day when prayer, fasting, and repentance would take place. It would be an individual decision. But there is something to be said about the witness that is made by Christendom when it marks such a day. But I tend to relate it to the Day of Atonement when Jews would do the same and bring sacrifices as they repented and committed to a renewal of their faith to God as they are cleansed for the entire year of sins.
We know that Jesus died once and for all for sins. (Romans 6:10; I Peter 3:18) He was the supreme sacrifice who took upon himself the sins of the world. Knowing that we are forgiven and have the hope of eternal life, Christians ought always to think about drawing closer to God, not just once a year, but all year. Fasting is one of those ways. Jesus said, “When you fast…..” not if you fast. (Matthew 6:16-18) So it would be safe to assume that it would be a common practice among followers of Christ. Wednesday, March 6, 2019 marks the beginning of the 40 days before Easter. Rather than being critical of our Christian friends who may bear ashes on their foreheads that day, let us consider our own relationship with Christ and what we can do to remind ourselves how we can draw closer to our Lord. Easter is a big day for Christians. Don’t let a day go by where you don’t remember even for a second what it means to us—the hope of eternal life. (I Peter 1:3-9)
Be Encouraged,
Ray
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