The Season of Lent

The Season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and repentance.  It lasts for 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter.  It is reminiscent of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.  During Ash Wednesday, Christians go to church and receive ashes on their foreheads.  This is done as both a sign of repentance as well as a reminder of our own frailty and the impermanence of human life.  This is also a time to practice spiritual exercises, like giving, participating in acts of service, devoting time to prayer and study, reading scripture, and fasting.   

Fasting is a personal matter, and there are different ways to observe a fast.  It is typically not a time to skip many meals.  Traditionally many Christians have eaten fish on Friday's or substituted meat for vegetarian options.  People should keep in mind that fasting in not a weight lose tool, nor should it become a contest.  Women that are pregnant or people with certain health issues should consult their doctor before fasting.  In the Roman Catholic Church a person is permitted to eat one full meal a day when fasting, and two smaller meals throughout that day.  Fasting is not equivalent to going completely without food.  Some Christians have substituted one meal with a healthy vegetarian or soup option.  Another option is to replace expensive meat dishes with healthy rice or vegetarian meals and donating the money spent on meat to international or national food pantries or food distribution centers.  Our Central Florida Presbytery supports a yearly 2¢ a meal offering which is a loose change offering that supports several food banks in Central Florida.  During Lent, giving the extra $3-$4 that would normally be spent on more expensive meat dishes to such charities can help feed our needy brothers and sisters in our communities and around the world.  

Sunday is not considered a fast day but a feast day.  Normally, whatever it is that Christians have given up for Lent is permissible on Sunday.  Someone that might give up sweets or chocolate for lent can eat on Sunday.  The Stations of the Cross is a another way that Christians have used to meditate on the passion and suffering of Christ.   The Stations of the Cross are a fourteen step devotional that follows Jesus last day on earth during his crucifixion and passion.  Sometimes in churches, specific stations are set up with icons or pictures of each event.  Prayers are said at each station, or scripture is read.  The Stations end with Jesus being laid at the tomb.  The most important part of Lent, is to make sure that we make room in our busy schedules and work for Jesus.  To listen to the voice of Christ, and make room for God and allow the Spirit to convict us, renew us, and heal us.  This is a time to prepare to hear the Good News of Easter.