Enter the Sacred Season of Lent
Yesterday, February 14, was a special day set aside to celebrate love—Valentine’s Day. This year, February 14 was also Ash Wednesday when the season of Lent began.
Lent is a sacred season, a 40-day period of spiritual renewal and examination leading up to Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified. That day, the ultimate gift of Divine love was given to humankind.
During the season of Lent, Christians all over the world remember the forty-day fast Jesus undertook in the wilderness. Through these dedicated days, we are asked to examine our lives and allow our unique, individual souls to be shaped more and more into the image of Jesus so that together we can reflect the love for which Jesus died.
On Ash Wednesday, Christians are reminded it was from dust we were created by God, and it is to dust our earthly bodies will one day return. In some churches, ashes in the shape of a cross are placed on a person’s forehead during a special Ash Wednesday service.
Three major themes of Lent are Fasting, Prayer, and Service or Almsgiving, an antiquated religious word for giving to those who are less fortunate.
FASTNG:
Although Lent was not emphasized in my early faith tradition, I remember my Catholic friends telling me what they were giving up for Lent. These children, even if they didn’t fully understand the significance, were learning the principle of fasting.
Biblical fasting generally involves limiting food intake in some way. Some choose to give up an enjoyable food such as sugar for the 40-day Lent period. Some faith traditions encourage fasting from meat every Friday during Lent. Some choose a non-food fast, such as from television, social media, or an enjoyable but unnecessary activity.
PRAYER:
Lent is an important time to be more intentional about prayer. Oftentimes, prayer is combined with fasting. Rather than eating one meal, setting aside that time to pray. Or, instead of watching that special television show, spending the hour reading Scripture and praying. Rather than focusing only on what to avoid, add a soul-nurturing spiritual practice such as solitude, silence, a Lenten devotional, or contemplative Scripture reading.
SERVICE or ALMSGIVING:
Giving to the less fortunate is certainly consistent with the teaching and example of Jesus. An act of almsgiving could be donating clothing or food to an organization that distributes to those in need. Possibilities are numerous.
I believe honoring the season of Lent is less about tradition or obligation, but it is much more about the formation of our soul into deeper awareness of the importance of a growing relationship with Christ.
My friend, Julie Cole, is the director of spiritual formation at a Christian college. I loved her reflection upon this sacred season,
“Seasons such as Lent invite us to slow down, look within and prepare our hearts for more of God. Lent is a more solemn time of soul searching and self-denial to remember Jesus’ death and prepare for the celebration of his resurrection.”
In whatever way you observe Lent, I pray continued blessings on your journey,
