By the time you read this, we will have turned the corner towards the liturgical season known as Lent. The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on March 4th and ends on
the Saturday before Easter. This is about 40 days, excluding Sundays. Even if you have been around the church for a long time, you may have some questions about the meaning of Lent. You may have heard that people “give up” things or activities such as certain foods, entertainment, or interests, and even give up social media during Lent.
Because the central message of the Christian faith is the Good News of the resurrection, the early church prepared to celebrate Easter with fasting and prayer vigils a few days before. This morphed into seven days during Holy Week, then three weeks, and finally, in the fourth century, it became 40 days, excluding Sundays. The focal point of these pre-Easter days was this idea of preparation. It was a way to help believers focus upon their relationship with God.
The early church introduced the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting, almsgiving, confession, self-examination, and Scripture reading. These disciplines were introduced to provide avenues for the faithful to empty themselves of things or behaviors that were distracting from their relationship with God and to instead fill their lives with practices that paved the way to experience God fully.
The challenge for 21st-century Christians is not so much understanding the meaning of Lent as how how does one observe it or participate in it. I want first to interject a helpful reminder: Observing or participating in Lent is not a means to gain favor in the eyes of God. Grace has already done that for us. Before I offer some suggestions for observing Lent, start by opening your heart to God and asking him for guidance and direction.
Now, here are some suggestions for daily practices:
Pick a Gospel and read portions of it for 40 days.
Write in a daily poem focusing on God's character and goodness.
Paint anything in nature capturing God’s magnificent handywork.
Listen to or sing your favorite hymns or worship songs.
Take a picture of objects with your phone. Pay attention to what God may be inspiring
you to photograph. At the end of the 40 days, look at all of them and see if a
“theme” presents itself.
Express an encouraging word to a different person every day.
Find a prayer book that appeals to you. Use to pray in this season of Lent.
As we ramp up to the season of Lent, my hope and prayer is that you may find it fulling
and rich. God bless you all.
Warmly in Christ,
Jesse