What is Lent? Beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for 40 days, Lent is a season known for fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter. The Church year revolves around two “cycles,” one for Christmas and one for Easter.
The Christmas cycle begins with a season of preparation: Advent. The Easter cycle begins with a season of preparation: Lent. So That’s what Lent is. But what does it mean for the modern day Christian? Or What should it mean for today’s Christians?
As I mentioned earlier, our church year revolves around two cycles. Advent and Lent. I believe that our real Christmas Present, doesn’t happen in Advent, but rather, it happens during Lent, and more to the point, after Good Friday when Christ died on the cross, and on that blessed third day when he rose from the dead.
The Real Christmas Present is the sacrifice that Christ made in order for our sins to be forgiven, so that we could have everlasting life with him in Heaven. So, like Advent, Lent is a time of preparation.
In Advent, we bring in Greens and bows to decorate, we light the Advent wreath each Sunday, the Christmas tree goes up, we wrap presents, make goodies and dream about Santa and his reindeer. We prepare for the birth of Jesus in very visual and public ways.
In Lent, however, our preparation may be a bit more understated. Quiet. Personal. Introspective. Some folks will fast on Fridays. Some folks will add additional prayer time, or study the bible more often. Some folks will go to confession asking for forgiveness for their sins. All these examples, are very personal choices.
Whatever the case, I have always been taught, that keeping a good Lent should not be a time to boast about the personal sacrifices one is making during this season. Lent should be about a personal time with God. A time to strengthen our faith. A time to reflect about our lives and our actions.
I remember as a child, my mother and father would give up things like coffee or chocolate during Lent. My mother would also choose something that we, as a family unit, would also give up. Typically things we loved like Ice Cream, or Pizza Fridays, or soda pop.
But in recent times, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of not giving up something, but rather taking something up. Could be something like volunteering at a school or at the mission, or in a clothing bank. Taking up making weekly visits to a nursing home or to people who are shut ins. Reading to the folks, or just chatting, keeping them company.
Again, remembering that Lent is a quiet, reflective time to think about one’s personal life and relationship with God. It is a time to draw closer to God. It is a time to reflect upon our own Christian discipleship.
Many years ago, when I lived in Spokane and attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, I was the Christian Ed. Director. We developed a Lenten curriculum series entitled: Walking in Christ’s Footsteps. We used his life as the guide, starting with the 40 days and nights in the desert. And then his subsequent journey to the Cross. It was a mindful, and sometimes painful reminder of what Christ actually endured during his final days on Earth and the personal sacrifices he made for each and every one of us.
On Good Friday, we read the medical description, in graphic detail, how Christ died by crucifixion. A grisly death. We put ourselves in the shoes of the Roman Soldiers who stood and watched as Christ cried out to his Father and took his last breath. They then proclaimed him as the Son of God. We studied Mary and what she must have been experiencing as a mother. We examined the betrayal by Peter, and asked ourselves, would we deny Christ when push came to shove? We recreated the dark space where his followers gathered in fear after the crucifixion and suddenly their friend and teacher, Christ appeared to them.
And of course, we celebrated that Glorious empty tomb and the Resurrection on what we now call Easter Morning. I mention this because, this might be a good Lenten story for you to use during your own personal journey through Lent. Whatever we do, the hope is that we gain a deeper and more meaningful personal relationship with God.
Instead of joyfully preparing our houses with decorations for Christmas as we do during Advent, the hope is that you will decorate your heart and souls with the love of Jesus Christ during this Lent, drawing him even closer as we walk with him to the tomb and sing with Joy at the Resurrection. The Best Present Ever.
I recently read the following from Pope Francis.
I would like to leave these words with you this morning possibly as an inspiration to use during this Lenten Season.
Fast from Hurting words and instead say kind words.
Fast from sadness
Fast from anger and be filled with patience
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope
Fast from worries and trust in God
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity
Fast from pressures and be prayerful
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
May our Lenten Season be filled with intention, mindfulness and reflection deepening our Love and Relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen