Day before yesterday was the first Sunday of Lent. I have never been a part of a church that observes Lent and I’m not attuned to the liturgical church calendar, so I was caught by surprise when I read a blog last week about Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten observance.
In my growing up years, the only people I knew about who observed Lent were Catholics. I knew they had special church services, did penance for their sins, and gave up certain things during the 40 days prior to Good Friday (minus Sundays, which are a celebration of the Resurrection). Then I learned that other denominations followed the same practice – but not ours.
Ask.com defines Lent as “a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.”
While many of our churches that grew out of the Anabaptist tradition do not observe Lent, viewing it as a manmade holy day and frowning on rituals and liturgies, I think there can be much spiritual value in taking time at this season to meditate on scripture that describes Christ’s suffering and sacrifice on our behalf. The greatness of his love and the depth of his sacrifice should lead to confession and repentance from sin. Fasting can be a part of our observance. Spiritual fasting may mean anything from going without meals or a certain food to eliminating certain attitudes or activities from one’s life in order to free ourselves from the desires of the flesh and turn our hunger toward God. The decision to fast should be led by the Spirit of God.
While I do not feel led to fast, I have decided to observe Lent by focusing my devotional times on the cross of Christ. I am working through Contemplating the Cross, a small book by Trisha McCary Rhodes that provides daily scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments, a brief narrative of a few moments in Christ’s journey to the cross, and probing questions to consider. I want to understand in a deeper way the rejection, the anguish, and the terrible suffering Jesus endured for my sake!
Some blogs I’ve read offer insights and suggestions for observing Lent. You may find something helpful on one of these sites:
• http://blog.lifeway.com/womenallaccess/2014/03/03/what-lent-taught-me-about-myself/#.Uxd_QWex4rg
• http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/february/in-defense-of-lent.html
• http://www.judydouglass.com/2014/03/discovering-mercy-lent/
If you don’t choose to fast, you may want to make a donation to someone in need. A suggestion would be to help our sisters and brothers in the Central African Republic who are experiencing severe hunger – an unintentional fast caused by the bitter suffering and destruction they have experienced because of the warring factions in their nation. You can donate at http://www.encompassworldpartners.org/component/k2/item/4590-africa-relief.html
I trust that during these days leading up to “Good” Friday (the darkest of all days for our Lord), your heart will be stirred again by the depths of his suffering on your behalf. Then rejoice, because after dark Friday comes Resurrection Sunday!
Do you observe Lent? What practices are especially meaningful to you? I’d love to hear from you.
Released! 