Grace and peace be unto you!
Something to think about on this cold Wednesday. Easter is just around the corner, which means that Lent starts next week. Yes, Wednesday, March 6th is the beginning of Lent for this Easter season.
So, what is Lent and why should I participate?
Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of year for many Christians around the world, particularly those within the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, held at a similar level of importance to Advent – the build-up to Christmas.
While Advent is a celebration and a time of great anticipation, Lent is more frequently seen as a time of solemn observance and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence.
Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, like a wedding, or birthday; a commencement Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death, and bodily resurrection.
These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly, beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs, and fats until Easter Sunday.
Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social media.
Many Christians also use Lent to study their Bibles and pray more intensively, making use of the many devotional books and courses now available too.
And, of course, more and more Christians are turning to the 40 acts challenge (we will talk more about this soon) as a way of doing Lent differently; using simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first during preparations for Easter.
Until tomorrow
#liveBlessed
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