What is Lent and Why do We Observe It?

Lent is a season of the Church calendar year where we walk or journey to the cross of Christ over a period of 46 days (technically, 40, as we don’t count Sundays during Lent) and then celebrate Easter Sunday as the triumphant end of Christ’s suffering for our sins. The Church in her wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit, began this observance as a means to prepare us for Easter much like Advent prepare us for Christmas.

In Lent, we are reminded of our own brokenness, and yet Christ died for us as sinners. We are reminded of the “weight” and the “cost” of our sin—our own fragility and weakness in living in the way that God calls us to live—which is nothing less than utter and total love for God and neighbor. Thus the Cross serves as an irony for us during the season of Lent; it was God’s justice and love at work towards us, His creation. And we needed it to have life with Him forever—but it costs the greatest sacrifice ever made—God Himself in the person and work of Jesus, the Word made flesh, would have to climb that cross and be nailed and crucified for us sinners.

So, during this season, we consider “sacrifices” for God—not that we can earn anything from it, but as a time of complete devotion to Him and our neighbors. We want to press into that concept and really, a life of true discipleship as it was meant to be. Now, if you think about it, there really is no better time to commit to this than in preparation for Good Friday and then, Easter Sunday.

Thus, a way to live this out is very simply to focus on three things during this season: praying, fasting, and alms-giving. Prayer is the way we live out our relationship with God. Maybe for Lent this year, we will consider how we might be more attuned to our prayerfulness. As Anglicans, some of us pray the daily office of morning prayer or evening prayer that you can find in the Book of Common Prayer or on Apps on your phones. This would be something incredibly beneficial in our walk with God—to really live into daily communion with Him.

We will, some at least, consider what we might give up during this time and this is being more attuned to the concept mentioned earlier—fasting. What is something in your life that keeps you from being totally committed to the Lord of Glory and hinders you from walking with Him? Consider that as the something you should “give up”—you know, a sin that easily besets you and who knows, maybe you will come out the other side of Lent in the resurrection of Christ having overcome that sin by the grace of God.

Lastly, there’s the practice of almsgiving. This is something we can “take up” during the season of Lent. Think of ways that you can give back during these 40 days. Maybe it’s through volunteering at a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen to help offer food to those who don’t have the benefit of enjoying three square meals a day. Or maybe when you dine out, consider giving more of a tip to your waitress/waiter—maybe 5% more, or even 10% more. There’s even something more you could do—commit to a 10% tithe to the church. And if you can’t give 10%, we understand, but try to give more than you usually do as a way to offer God what’s His anyway. It all belongs to Him and we can never outgive God.

These are just “some” of the practical ways that we can “sacrifice” something in our devotion to God during the season of Lent which begins this Wednesday (known as “Ash Wednesday”). We the staff invite you to join us in this penitential season in journeying to the cross and living into the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead in a most meaningful way. This is why we observe Lent and we ask you to journey with us. God can give you more this Lent. Find your rest in Him.

 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Eph. 3:20-21