What is Lent?
Lent this year begins on February 17 and goes through Holy Saturday, April 3,2021. Lent begins each year on Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter”. Lent dates:
- Ash Wednesday – February 17, 2021
- Palm Sunday – March 28, 2021
- Maundy Thursday – April 1, 2021
- Good Friday – April 2, 2021
- Easter Sunday- April 4, 2021
Lent is the Christian season of spiritual discipline leading up to Easter. Many Christians have a period of fasting, repentance, and spiritual development. The meaning of the Lenten season is to use this time to think about Jesus and to recognize that He came to give each of us new life through his death, burial and resurrection. Many Christians give up something for Lent while others spend more time reading the Bible or time in prayer.
Lent is a shortened version of the old English word ‘lencten’ which simply means spring – referring to the season. It has been used to describe the season when the days begin to lengthen, telling us there is new life and renewal. Over time, the word Lent came to be linked to the Christian tradition of fasting before Easter, which always coincided with spring. Early Christians knew the significance of Easter called for appropriate preparations. A 40-day period of fasting was seen in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325). The custom may have arisen from the early church tradition of the 40-day period of fasting in preparation for baptism at Easter. Eventually, the Lent Season became something for the whole church. Lenten fasting has consisted of abstaining from all animal products for some, and for others fish and poultry were allowed. Some societies have permitted only bread for a time. There were full-day fasts, half-day fasts and the potential to pay money to be excused from participating. There have been, and are many ways to approach Lent, but Lent seems to be rooted in Christians giving up food or money in order to emulate Christ’s obedience to the Father. Ash Wednesday begins the season and it is a time where many mark their foreheads with ashes as a symbol of sorrow and mourning over their sin. Daniel 9:3 and Esther 4:3 makes reference to ashes.
Lent is meant to be a time of repentance. That’s not a feeling of shame but an awareness that sin separates us from God and what it cost Him to be reunited with us. True repentance leads to a 180 degree change of direction. Repentance starts with regretful acknowledgment of sin with commitment to change. Christians realize that they cannot do anything in their own strength – only the grace of God is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9)
Greater intimacy with God is the reward of sacrifice. God’s love for us and our salvation is not reliant on denying ourselves something but it does stand to allow us to worship the one true God. These 40 days are for praise and worship. They call us to read more scripture and to pray more often. Christians who observe Lent anticipate deeper intimacy with the Lord. Christ did not establish the tradition of Lent as some kind of commandment for followers to observe. Observing Lent is something an individual can do to have a more intimate relationship with God.
Author: Tommy Herndon
