The Meaning of Lent
The Lenten Season is observed for 40 days, beginning on Ash Wednesday and extending to midnight on the day before Easter, omitting Sundays. The first Sunday of Lent is called Passion Sunday and the Last Sunday is Palm Sunday. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week.
The original meaning of Lent is “Holy Spring”. It is a time of preparation. It is a time to prepare themselves for Easter by asking God to forgive them their failures and by repenting your sins. It a time of year that the Early Church instructed new converts in theology and church doctrine to prepare them for Baptism that would take place on Easter. Consequently it was both a time of learning about the Christian faith as well as a time of self-examination and soul-searching that included repentance, self-denial, prayer, and fasting.
The Lenten season is a time for new beginnings and a time of spiritual renewal. It is a time to forsake evil in our lives and turn back to God. It is also a time to reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross ending at the Resurrection.
Lent is more than Carnaval or Fiesta it is a reaffirmation of your faith in God.
Personal comment by David Gamble: Lent is a time in my opinion for making sacrifices in accordance with Christian principles. For example, not buying a new TV, or more of some material possession that you already have, or engaging in some personal bad habit (e.g. worrying to much, or being to competitive with your fellowman) that you engage in. Some of the key principles of Christianity are living simply so that others may live, and being grateful for what you have. For an upper middle class white person such as myself, it is good to make sacrifices (especially if they can directly be related to helping someone else) because I have more than I need. People in that situation are supposed to give to those that are in need.
To a certain degree, it is a process of denial that makes one stronger and feel better.
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1 comment:
Well said.
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