Each year, the Christian community observes the sacred season of Lent. Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter in the Christian calendar (not including Sundays). Beginning on Ash Wednesday that marks the start of the Lenten season, a day of reflection and repentance from your sin that falls on March 2. On April 10, the Roman Catholic followers and other Christians celebrate Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem which is known as the “Palm Sunday”. It is also the beginning of the “Holy Week”, the week leading up to Easter or the last week of Lent. “Maundy Thursday” comes and on this day the foot washing and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles are being commemorated. Then, “Good Friday”, on this day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Lastly, April 17 is the “Easter Sunday”. This is the end of the Lenten season that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is an expression of victory over sin and death.
During lent, Christians commit to doing fasting and abstinence. Fasting is the act of doing with less, eating less of food and most often refers to abstention from food (food that is not allowed to be eaten during fasting is meat), while Abstinence is the act of “doing without” or avoiding something, for example, abstain from drinking alcohol or abstain from your vices.
The traditional rules of fasting during lent are very specific which includes fasting on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays, and on Good Friday and is continued until Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and to prepare oneself to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
Lent is meant to be a time for reflection and repentance. It is about recognizing our sins; we have to acknowledge that through our sins, our sinfulness, and our weaknesses, we hurt and harm people. Repentance starts with the regretful acknowledgment of sin with a commitment to change.
While observing the 40 days of lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Pray, give, forgive, and repent every day, not only on Lenten season.
AA VI Angelyn P. Intal, RND
References:
- https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-purpose-of-lent.html
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56337/fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent
- https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence
