Most of us, without a doubt, know when Valentine’s Day is. But Lent, is a different story. Lent comes in February this year, the same day as Valentine’s Day.
While Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the church, and legend has it that a priest broke the law by promoting love and marriage for young couples, especially for young single men, as a protest for single young men not to be conscripted into the military, so, the lovers holiday was started.
Valentine’s Day occurs every Feb. 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world. Candy, flowers, candle lit dinners, and gifts are exchanged between lovers and loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But in the name of Christ, this year, we trade those goodies for sack cloth, fasting and prayer for Lent. Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, is charted based on the date of Easter. The season of Lent is in February because Easter comes in March this year.
Worship leaders will be happy to know that The Masters Tournament, the most sacred first week in April, Easter notwithstanding, when all eyes are on Augusta, and our parishioners will be out-of-town on holiday or the greens, will not be in conflict this year.
Therefore, I invite you to think with me on a less sexy, but critically important season on the Church calendar, that helps some believers to prepare for Easter with special intentions for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, which are three important days of our faith, known as the Holy Triduum.
Lent is a 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, where many Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity. Many believers will focus on spiritual purification, meditation, and penance. Lent lasts around 40 days, not including Sundays, drawing from the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert before starting his ministry.
Lent is practiced by most Christian groups, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans and Lutherans. There is a saying in Anglican circles regarding the practice of such religious piety, especially when it comes to confession, “All may, none must, some should.”
Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance, in the Synoptic Gospels when Jesus was tempted by Satan, but it is in Matthew and Luke that the details of the temptation are fleshed out. All three accounts say that Jesus went without food for the 40 days enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.
Not all Christians, even the ones I mentioned earlier, fast. The focus of the season is on spiritual growth and connection with God. Oftentimes Christians choose to take on something during Lent as opposed to giving up something, like reading more of the Bible or completing daily devotions and group Lenten studies. As for me, I try to be more conscious of the areas in my life, where I am tempted by things that are not of Christ. I pray for God’s help to repent and become aware of those times when I am selfish and only think about myself and not others. I pray for the grace to be more loving towards my enemies and learning who is my neighbor. I only fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting is a traditional part of Lent, but not everyone does it. Its purpose is to symbolize penance and remorse for one’s sins. This can also be done by giving up certain luxuries, like eating meat on the Fridays, in Lent, except for fish. Or by completing acts of charity.
Why 40 days? Forty is typically indicative of a time of testing, trial, penance, purification, and renewal. In the New Testament, forty days is the length of Jesus’ time of trial in the desert in preparation for his public ministry, proclaiming the Gospel.
Lent has gradually become secularized by many, serving as a chance to give up bad habits. If you skipped making a New Year’s resolution, or already has lapsed on your plans of self-improvement, some may feel that Lent is a great time to give it another try.
The day before Ash Wednesday, known as Shrove Tuesday for some and Mardi Gras for others, is traditionally a day of celebration before the fasting begins. This includes eating fatty foods, which has also led the day to be called Fat Tuesday, which in French translates to “Mardi Gras.”
For most Protestant churches, it concludes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. For others, however, it concludes on Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday when Jesus gave the commandment that we should love one another, where he washed the disciples feet, and instituted the “Last Supper.” He was arrested, tried, and crucified on Good Friday, and was raised from the dead, on Easter Sunday morning.
So, if the observance of Lent is not a part of your religious discipline, I hope you will be able to see, how it may be important to others. May the joy of Valentine and the cleansing power of Lent be with you.
