Ash Wednesday ushers in the 40-day period known to the Christian world as Lent. Devoutly observed by some, misunderstood or ignored by others, Lent is the Christian counterpart to the Jewish High Holy Days and the Muslim observance of Ramadan. All three provide time for the faithful to pray, take inventory of their spiritual lives and draw closer to God.
Because my church was more casual than liturgical, I had no idea what was meant by “The Church Year.” Advent, Pentecost, and Lent were observed by Catholics, not us. But when my small-town denominational life gave way to the ecumenical experience of the military chapel, I began learning why Catholics and many Protestants use different methods to practice their faith. Once I understood this, some of those methods, including Lent, became part of my faith, too.
I began with the usual denial of some favorite food – but halted that practice when I realized that I had a secret agenda to lose weight. Then I went beyond chocolate deprivation to skipping lunch those 40 days, not to lose weight I convinced myself, but to treat each hunger pang as a signal to pray for those for whom hunger is the norm.
Later, however, my Lenten expression evolved into “taking on something” rather than – or in addition to – giving up something, like becoming more habitual in prayer, devotional reading, and “random acts of kindness.” But no matter what form my Lenten practice takes, according to the Bible, my first church was correct in not observing Lent at all. Not only is Lent not mentioned, but no matter how much we sacrifice, or how many random acts we perform, we can’t do enough by ourselves to earn our salvation.
That’s why Jesus came to earth, to do what we couldn't do alone. Jesus also admonished the religious leaders of His day for performing their religious practices in public. In today’s setting, announcing our Lenten sacrifice could become one of those outward displays for which he so strongly disapproved.
But quietly and intentionally, observing Lent can be extremely beneficial. Food denial increases our concern for those who are always deprived. Spending time in prayer and study improves our spiritual health, and kindness has a ripple effect on all who give or receive it. Besides, as our Scripture verse says, “looking unto Jesus” helps us endure the sometimes painful 40-day periods in our lives, too.
~Barbara Seaborn~
