Lent is the 40-day period leading up to Easter, (excluding Sundays) that starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. These 40 days of Lent involve fasting, prayer, and almsgiving as a way to connect deeper with God and fellow neighbour.
The origin of the word Lent comes from the “Old English lencten springtime, spring” and “from West Germanic langitinaz long-days or lengthening of the day.” The 40-day period of Lent is symbolic of significant biblical events, including:
- Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
- Moses spending 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).
- Elijah’s 40-day journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
- The 40 days of rain during the Great Flood (Genesis 7:12).
- The Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert (Numbers 14:33).
ASH WEDNESDAY:
Lent starts with Ash Wednesday, where the faithful are marked with a cross of ashes on their foreheads. These ashes are a reminder of our need for repentance and the reality of our human frailty. The ash marks symbolize sorrow and mourning over sin. The Biblical support for this observation comes from the following verses:
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3).
There was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:3).
THE HOLY WEEK:
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent and begins the time of Lent known as the Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter and the final days of Jesus’ life. Palms
Sunday marks Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, when people welcomed Him with palm branches, recognizing Him as their King.
Maundy Thursday of Holy Week remembers the Last Supper, when Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples, instituting the Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, and commandment to service.
Good Friday is a solemn day that commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and His ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Despite its sorrowful events, it’s called “Good” because of the redemption Jesus secured for us.
Holy Saturday is a day of quiet reflection, as we remember Jesus’ time in the tomb and anticipate the joy of what’s to come.
Easter Sunday bursts forth with celebration—Jesus is alive! His resurrection offers us hope, new life, and the promise of eternity with Him.
During Lent, the faithful experience spiritual comeback, through fasting (abstaining from something to focus on God), prayer, and almsgiving (giving to charity). Here are a few steps for practicing Lent in your own home and faith:
- Name the pressing sin. Through the examination of conscience and taking part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. An individual binds the relationship between God and his neighbour.
- Partner with the other: In the words of Jesus, ‘whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do unto me’. A time to realise the trouble and trials that each individual faces and the courage to reach out to them.
- Fast: Your “fast” should feel like a sacrifice, not religious duty. Nor should the fast be dangerous to one’s health. Consider giving up one meal a day, a regular treat, coffee, or alcohol. Other sacrifices include increased charitable giving, staying away from social media, service to the community, or memorizing scripture.
- Spend quality time with God: Quiet and solitude enable one to listen to the Spirit and discern answers to prayer. Time spent with God, through reading the Holy Bible and Prayer, will help us to be more in tuned with our self and others.
The forty days of Lent is a season of grace where we can come back to God, experiencing His love, care and mercy. A chance to build our relationship not only with God but also with our own self and neighbours. Let this season of Lent be a hope filled with grace.
Fr. Josely Rocha