Lent
What is lent?
You may or may not have grown up celebrating Lent, even if you attended church as part of your weekly rhythms. However, the season of Lent has been practiced by followers of Jesus throughout the centuries as a way of preparing our hearts to remember and reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus. During this season, followers of Jesus often fast from food or other activities as a means by which they might increase their hunger for God in anticipation of the beauty of the cross and the miracle of the resurrection.
When is Lent?
This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18th. Historically, Lent is the 40 days leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross—a rhythm in the church calendar some believe is inspired by the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.
How to practice Lent.
Lent not only invites us into fasting but it also invites us into engaging in new or deepened spiritual practices. Whether you are fasting from food, technology, alcohol or other significant consumptions, you are invited to replace it with something else that draws you closer to God, like prayer or reading Scripture. Below are some resources to help you engage new or different spiritual practices during Lent.
Reading Guides
Prayer Apps
Fasting Guide
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It is easy to get swept up in what is happening in our own lives and even our own individual churches but the Lenten season reminds us we are part of a global and historical movement of Christians and ultimately part of God’s story. Lent has been practiced in some form by Christians from as early as the 4th Century and today Christians from all around the world and across many denominations mark this significant time in the Church calendar.
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The disciplines of prayer and fasting that we focus on during Lent are primarily intended to draw us closer to God and build our relationship with him. In Lent, we remember Jesus’ period of 40 days in the wilderness where he prayed and fasted. There’s an opportunity to journey with Jesus by joining in what he did and mark this period by praying intentionally and fasting over 40 days. Fasting provides an opportunity to remove a key distraction in our lives (whether it be food, alcohol, social media etc.) and give that time and attention to God.
Lent is also traditionally a time of penitence; recognizing where we have made mistakes, bringing that to God and asking for forgiveness. Especially if this is not a part of your regular prayer life, and even if it is, Lent is a useful reminder to come before God in humble repentance.
The prayer and fasting that takes place during Lent does not need to be a legalistic activity but can be a chance to refocus on Jesus, not simply following a set of rules but taking part in practices which will draw us to God.
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Lent gives us the opportunity to reflect on the Easter story, Jesus’ journey to the cross and sacrifice for us all. It’s been noted that fasting or ‘giving something up’ for lent as a small form of sacrifice can give more meaning to Jesus’ sacrifice for us on Good Friday.
Particularly during Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter Sunday), it can be helpful to reflect on the events that took place, focusing on changing mood as we go through the different days of the week. The week begins with the remarkable moment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, then on Maundy Thursday we see Jesus’ poignant last supper with his disciples, followed by Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, then the day of waiting while Jesus is in the tomb and finally his triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday. Following the story in real time can bring even more significance to arguably the most important week in the Christian year.