What are the days of Lent? Many Christians have heard of Lent, but do they all know what it means? Lent means 40 working days (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Easter, observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern and some Protestant churches as a period of reflection, penance and fasting.
Between Ash Wednesday and Easter, many Christians observe a 40-day period known as Lent. The name is derived from the Old English words “lencten” meaning “spring, springtime” and “from the West Germanic word langitinaz meaning long days or lengthening of the day”. Although generally known as a period of fasting, there are many ways to make Lent meaningful without skipping meals.
Lent in 2024:
Lent begins every year on Ash Wednesday and is 46 days before Easter Sunday. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, and ends on Holy Saturday, March 30, 2024 if you follow the 40-day tradition.
Ash Wednesday follows Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday. This day is traditionally a time for confession and indulgence before the start of fasting.
The meaning of Lent:
The Christian meaning of Lent revolves around preparation, reflection and repentance. During Lent, Christians often engage in activities such as fasting, prayer, and giving to deepen their relationship with God and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Fasting during Lent usually means abstaining from certain foods or luxuries as a form of self-discipline and solidarity with the sufferings of Christ.
The main purpose of Lent is to repent. It is not a feeling of shame, but an awareness of what sin separates us from God and what Christ endured to save us from sin, death, and the devil. “Shame has its place, but feeling ashamed of sin is not the same as repenting of sin” because “the devil who tempts us can turn our obedience to God into a source of pride.”
Penitent sinners “seek […] to be cleansed from sin as well as from shame.” True repentance leads to a “180-degree change in orientation” and requires “real brokenness,” but repentance begins with a “repentant confession of sin and a commitment to change.”
This is why it is dangerous to confuse Lent with New Year’s vows. This time of fasting should not be a religious exhortation to achieve a difficult goal, such as losing weight, quitting pornography, or donating money to charity. “Lent is an opportunity […] to reflect on what our Lord really did for us on the cross.”
Christian traditions in Lent
Lent is a mixture of traditional practices and rituals that Christians do in preparation for Easter. Here are three of the most important traditions of Lent:
Prayer: As a historical Lent tradition, prayer accompanies fasting. We should pray to improve our relationship with God and strengthen our spiritual discipline during the preparation for Easter.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving present your needs to God.” ~ Philippians 4:6
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. Of course, the soul is willing, but the body is weak. ~ Matthew 26:41
Fasting: Fasting is a well-known aspect of Lent, inspired by Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness. Christians fast to increase their control over worldly desires, such as food.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after forty days and forty nights of fasting, he became hungry. And the tempter came and said to him: “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he replied: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” ~ Matthew 4:1-4
Charity: Helping others is also one of the traditions of Lent, which was inspired by Jesus’ commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself”. While we should be lovingly helping others throughout the year, there is an even greater emphasis on this during Lent.
“Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, because such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” ~ Hebrews 13:16
“None of you think only of your own interests, but also of the interests of others.” ~ Philippians 2:4
Today in the article : What Is Lent’s Meaning and Purpose We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
