Dear Editor,
This year, March 5 marked the beginning of the solemn Christian religious observance known as Lent. Lent is a period of reflection, penitence, and fasting to prepare one’s heart and mind for Easter. It is meant to echo the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Satan's temptation before beginning his public ministry, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, a day when Christians receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. This symbol represents remorse for sin and reminds us of our need for repentance and our human frailty. Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent culminate in the holiest day of the Christian calendar, Easter, the most significant event in Christian history.
This year, Lent will end on Thursday, April 17, which commemorates the Last Supper. Good Friday observes the arrest, trial, sentencing, and crucifixion of Jesus. Holy Saturday is a time for quiet reflection as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday, embracing the hope and promise of new life.
The primary purpose of Lent is to be a time of repentance through reflection and spiritual rededication—for service, giving, and forgiveness. It’s a time when we should best take stock of our failings and shortcomings, commit to eliminating unhealthy habits, and seek redemption by living a better life in the service of others.
During Lent, many Christians practice three traditional disciplines: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By allowing oneself intentional time, one can thank God for his blessings while seeking ways to serve better. Although fasting is often associated with abstaining from food, one might choose to apply the principle to altering unhealthful habits. Similarly, almsgiving need not only manifest in the form of giving money. For example, sharing one’s time with a lonely or infirm person can be a priceless gift.
Let's consider the season of Lent a gift that helps us become more mindful of our relationship with Jesus Christ and adopt the intention of living a better life by loving others more. We will likely grow closer to becoming the person God wants us to be.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge