Lent
by Patti Chadwick
The original meaning of
Lent is “holy spring”. Traditionally, it was a
time of preparation. Christians have used Lent as a time to prepare themselves for Easter
by asking God to show them their failures and by repenting of their wrong doings.
The Lenten Season is observed for 40
days, beginning on Ash Wednesday and extending to midnight on the day before Easter,
omitting Sundays. The
first Sunday of Lent is called Passion Sunday and the Last Sunday is Palm Sunday. The week
preceding Easter is called Holy Week.
The original meaning of Lent is “holy spring”. Traditionally, it was a
time of preparation. Christians have used Lent as a time to prepare themselves
for Easter by asking God to show them their failures and by repenting of their wrong
doings. Also, it was at this time of year that the Early Church instructed new converts in
theology and church doctrine to prepare them for Baptism that would take place on Easter.
Consequently it was both a time of learning about the Christian faith as well as a time of
self-examination and soul-searching that included repentance, self-denial, prayer, and
fasting.
The Lenten season is a time for new beginnings. We should consider it a
time of spiritual spring-cleaning; a challenge to forsake evil in our lives and
turn back to God. It is also a time to reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross
ending at the Resurrection. Let’s use this time wisely and let it draw us closer to
our Lord as we remember his great love and sacrifice for us.
Traditional Lenten Practices
Fasting
Special commitments
Good deeds and almsgiving
Prayer and reflection
Studying the Scripture
Participation in church worship services
The Heart Of Lent
*Begin with Self-examination and inner healing. Set aside this period to
examine and evaluate your life as a Christian.
*Acknowledge your dependence on God and resolve to accept and carry out
His will.
*Remember that spiritual renewal is possible only if you’re willing to
repent of your sins and change your lie for God.
*Realize that commitment to God is more than just going to church—it
involves carrying out God’s will daily, whatever
the circumstances.
*We need to persevere. Realize that Christians of every age have
experienced times of testing and must learn to overcome temptation
and despair.
Patricia Chadwick is a freelance writer.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and has been a stay-at-home mom
for 15 years. She lives with her husband John and her 4 children in Batavia, NY. You can
contact Patti at (716)343-2810 or e-mail her at patti.chadwick@juno.com
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