Lent for me is a time to assess and improve. In our church tradition, Lent is recognized as a season of preparation for Easter. Often we think of this as giving up something – chips, chocolate, alcohol, meat – all are things I’ve heard people say they’re giving up for lent. But why? What is the purpose and are there any rules? We’ll try to deal with both of these, but let’s start with the easier question – rules.
The Rules?
This is really simple – there are no rules from scripture. There are, however some traditions that serve as guidelines for observing Lent. The Bible tells us that, after his baptism, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert and was tempted by Satan. The church has modeled Lent on this forty-day fast. Lent is a period of 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending Easter Sunday. This year Ash Wednesday fell on March 2nd and Easter is April 17th. If you look at a calendar and count that up you’ll see there are actually 46 days (not counting Easter). What’s the deal? Well, according to a prior tradition, Sunday is a feast day, so it doesn’t count – Lent is suspended on Sunday.
This reminds me of a story -what else is new? I grew up in a church that didn’t talk about Lent so I didn’t know much when I was first married. Well, the first Ash Wednesday rolled around and I was asked what I was giving up – “alcohol, I guess”. So I did. No drinking for the first weeks of Lent. Finally at lunch on Palm Sunday someone in the family offered me a glass of champagne to celebrate. I said, “No thanks, I gave it up for Lent.” Then, after 5 weeks they let me in on the Sunday exception. Needless to say, the #OldManInTheWoods had done it again. Experience is a good teacher. I haven’t forgotten the Sunday exception and learned how the 40 days are counted at the same time.
I also learned that there are no rules about what to give up or even that giving up something is required. Some people take on a task or a “spiritual discipline”. Some examples I’ve heard are: spending time each day in prayer, reading a book, or taking on a volunteer job regularly. One year I read a book about the Rule of St. Benedict. Initially, I wasn’t sure this was a good choice. When I read about praying the hours, practicing silence, giving up everything, and living in relative poverty, I thought this isn’t realistic. But reading on, you find that, while Benedict prescribed work and prayer, he also allowed for leisure time and decent food and drink for the brothers. You can find out more about St. Benedict here.
The season of Lent is mentioned as early as St. Irenaeus in 203. You can read more about the history of Lent, some of the practices, and early attempts at setting rules here.
But Why do you observe Lent?
Maybe it’s time to address the question of why – what is the purpose of Lent? Warning – what follows is a statement of personal theology. There are no links or citations that should lead you to believe this is absolute “truth”. So, with that out of the way…
I observe Lent, in some way, every year to remind me that God came to earth in human form. He lived a hard life and died a cruel death because that was the only way to reconcile his family. His sisters and brothers (all of us humans) had chosen to sin, and as a result, were isolated from his Father, God who created us. Jesus’ life and death qualify him to stand with me before God and say, “Accept this imperfect man into a relationship with you – because he’s with me.” So, Lent reminds me of the work that Jesus did to save me, and us, from the ultimate consequence of our sins.
This is also a reminder for me that I can never do enough to earn my relationship with God. Often, during Lent, I give up something or decide to do something extra and fail. The year I read The Rule of St. Benedict, I missed a few days. I was traveling for work and just got too busy to read the chapter I was supposed to be reading. This year I decided to give up alcohol and all went well until Thursday – less than 48 hours into Lent. A friend spent the night with us and we had wine with dinner – all of us. The beauty of our Christian faith, as we’re reminded in Lent is that none of us are perfect. We need the life, cruel death, and resurrection of Jesus to bring us into relationship with the Father.
So what then? You get behind in reading or you take a drink during a dry Lent. What next? Do you just put the book away or break out the bottle? No – the Apostle Paul answered this very question in Romans.
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?
Romans 6:1-2 NRSV
So, whatever the failure, I try to remind myself that Jesus has got my back. He’s already covered the failure. Don’t give up because of yesterday, but press on today. That’s another reason to celebrate Lent – it’s a reminder that with Jesus I can continue despite my failures. I wrote this poem about 30 years ago as part of a songwriting exercise. As wrote this last paragraph the tune kept running in my head so I’ll share it.
I know this road – this road I travel
It is a long and dusty road.
And when I get to where I’m going
there’s no reward for me
You know this road – so long and dusty
it led my Lord to Calvary
And when I get to where I’m going
He’s waiting there for me!
For me, part of the why of Lent is to remind me that I can’t do even the simplest things on my own. I need Jesus with me, and the good news is that He’s there. In both the simplest failures and the worst you can imagine. He’s been down that road and he’s waiting to welcome us at the end – Thank you, Jesus!
Keep pressing on – God bless!