The denomination that I have been a part of hasn’t generally observed the season of Lent, it’s always been something that “other people” do.  But, in the last few years, many pastors and congregations have found it to be a helpful season for their spiritual formation.  Because of our general unfamiliarity with it, our Sunday School class decided to do an in-depth study of the history of Lent, its purpose, and its practices a few years ago.  In the course of the study, we learned a lot of good and interesting things:

• The season of Lent is one of the most ancient traditions of the church. The earliest Christians used this time to prepare new converts for baptism on Easter Sunday.  These new converts would learn the traditions and practices of the faith as they prepared to enter into their new community.
• The 40 days of Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, excluding Sundays), come from a number of significant events in the Bible: Noah survived the rainstorm that lasted 40 days and 40 nights, Moses on Mt. Sinai for 40 days, the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Job on the ash heap for 40 days, and Jesus tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. All of these significant times included the number 40.
• The season of Lent has been seen as a penitential season – a season where Christians are invited to reflect on their own faith and practice, to confess the ways that they have fallen short of the call of discipleship, and to open their lives to the transforming work of the spirit.

One man in the class said, “Aren’t we supposed to be focusing on these things all of the time?  Why would we need a special season for that?” Of course, he is right – however most people don’t do a great job of keeping our focus on our relationship with God all of the time.  And, so the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to hit the reset button – to acknowledge that we fall short of all that we are called to be and do and invite God to be at work in our lives.

Every Ash Wednesday, specific texts are read that speak to us about what the season of Lent is all about.  These texts (Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Psalm 51) call us to this kind of self-examination and change.  They call us to something different – to new ways of life that keeps our focus where it should be, on God.  This new focus gives the most abundant kind of life, not only for us – but for those around us that we are called to love and to serve.

These texts also remind us that our practices during this season are not to show those around us what great Christians and faithful people we are.  But instead, the focus and practices of this season put us in a place of intentionality where God can be at work in us – forming us more fully into Christlikeness.  During this season of Lent, I invite you into this kind life – opening all of who you are up to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life so that you may more faithfully love God and neighbor.

 

Heather Daugherty, University Minister