|
The
Lenten Season is
observed for 40 days, beginning
on Ash Wednesday and
extending to midnight on
the day before Easter,
omitting Sundays. The
first Sunday of Lent is
called Passion Sunday and
the Last Sunday is Palm
Sunday. The week preceding
Easter is called Holy
Week.
The
original meaning of Lent
is "holy
spring".
Traditionally, it was a
time of preparation.
Christians have used Lent
as a time to prepare
themselves for Easter by
asking God to show them
their failures and by
repenting of their wrong
doings. Also, it was at
this time of year that the
Early Church instructed
new converts in theology
and church doctrine to
prepare them for Baptism
that would take place on
Easter. Consequently it
was both a time of
learning about the
Christian faith as well as
a time of self-examination
and soul-searching that
included repentance,
self-denial, prayer, and
fasting.
The
Lenten season is a time
for new beginnings. We
should consider it a time
of spiritual
spring-cleaning; a
challenge to forsake evil
in our lives and turn back
to God. It is also a time
to reflect on Christ’s
journey to the cross
ending at the
Resurrection. Let’s use
this time wisely and let
it draw us closer to our
Lord as we remember his
great love and sacrifice
for us.
|
