To Be Continued: Three Pillars of Lent



So begins the Lenten Season. A penitential period that includes both abstinence and fasting. I didn’t grow up with the discipline of restricting what and when I can eat during a tradition, but I was taught to always practice self-control. We members of the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) do not celebrate Christmas, Halloween, All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day, Valentine’s Day, Fiestas, or the Lenten Season, all of which are associated with honoring saints and patrons. Lent just isn’t a big deal in my home. Today, however, I decided to delve deeper into the Lenten Season: what it is all about, why it is important, and how it compares to my existing beliefs.


What Are the Key Days of Lent?

Lent lasts 40 days (excluding Sundays) and runs from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. Lent is named after an old English word that means ‘to lengthen’. According to what I've heard, Lent is frequently described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God.

The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. I've noticed people with smudged, black crosses on their foreheads. They said that those are ashes from the Ash Wednesday service. The ashes represent their grief over their mistakes and the resulting separation of imperfect people from a perfect God.

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday preceding Good Friday. It commemorates the Passover meal that Jesus shared with His closest friends and followers the night before He died.

On Good Friday, Christians remember Jesus' death. According to them, the "Good" refers to Jesus' death as a sacrifice on our behalf in order for us to earn God's forgiveness for our wrongdoings or sins.

Easter Sunday is a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Jesus was born and lived on Earth with one purpose in mind: to show everyone how to obtain salvation and eternal life. He accepted and embraced this calling, despite his own suffering, because of the eternal glory that it would bring to all of us.


What Happens During Lent and Why?

According to the Bible, Jesus prepared for his Passion by fasting and praying for 40 days alone in the desert. He fought spiritual battles there by enduring Satan’s temptations and physical hunger. The Church (his Bride) prepares for the annual commemoration of his Passion, death, and resurrection by fasting for 40 days ahead of time, just as he did. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are also the three pillars I noticed people focus on during Lent.

During this season, their prayer focuses on their need for God's forgiveness. It is also about repentance and accepting God's mercy and love.

Fasting, or giving up something, is a popular practice during Lent. The idea is that giving up a daily habit, such as eating dessert or scrolling through Facebook, can serve as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. That time can be replaced by spending more time connecting with God.

Giving money or doing good for others is one way to express gratitude for God's grace, generosity, and love. Some people, for example, volunteer their time or donate money that they would normally use to buy something, such as their favorite food.


What Do I Think About Lent?

Others regard it as one of the most significant events in the Christian calendar, while I see it as a simple fast held prior to Easter. At least, I used to. Although I don't share all of the same practices as you, I will remember to slow down and focus on Jesus' sacrifice for all of us, and to express gratitude for the everlasting splendor it has opened up to us.

Everything Jesus did while on earth teaches us what we should do and how we should behave as Christians. Jesus was teaching us about spiritual discipline during this time of prayer and self-denial, which will help us turn away from sin, purify our souls, and bring us closer to God. This will give us the inner strength we need to bear our own crosses as we follow him.


Despite the ongoing pandemic, we continue to observe the Lenten Season. Let us also continue to deliver food to the homeless shelter. Let us continue to minimize our time spent on our smartphone. Let us continue to spend quality time together. Let us still continue to talk about, read about, and think about Jesus. Let us all be in a season of life and a mindset where the three pillars of Lent: prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbor) live on in us even when it is not the scheduled date of the Christian calendar.



Resources:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/43045086

https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/lent.html

https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/how-do-i-explain-lent-to-non-catholics-6306

https://thehealthyfish.com/6-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-lent/

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/lent

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