Lent is a forty-day season of fasting, prayer, and repentance observed by many Christians leading up to Easter. It commemorates Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the wilderness and prepares believers to reflect on His sacrifice and resurrection. Lent is typically associated with Catholics, though some Protestants observe it as well. Customs surrounding Lent are various, and their origins are uncertain. Lent is a liturgical tradition rather than a biblical mandate or biblical tradition. The intent of Lent is to demonstrate penance in preparation for Easter. Observing Lent should be a humble response to God’s grace, not a way to gain approval or show off spiritual discipline.
In most Western traditions, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes either on Maundy Thursday or on Holy Saturday. In Eastern tradition, Lent begins on Clean Monday (the Monday seven weeks prior to Easter) and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday. Still others observe an eight-week period of Lent, which excludes both Saturdays and Sundays.
The Lenten fast is observed differently by different people. Historically, for some it has consisted of abstaining from all animal products; for others, fish and/or poultry were allowed. Some ate only bread. Some would fast for a full day, whereas others would fast until mid-afternoon. Commonly, people ate only one small meal per day. Depending on the church authority of the time, exceptions to the fasting guidelines could be made, often when paid for. In addition to restricting the quantity and type of food eaten, festivities were also often limited. Also, it was expected that people focus on prayer and acts of charity.
In current-day Western societies, Lent has changed considerably. Some still observe fasts that restrict quantity and type of food. Many view Lent as a time in which to give up a particular vice, bad habit, or pleasurable thing. For instance, they will vow to stop swearing, restrict time spent playing video games, or give up sweets. Still others choose to add a new habit to their routines—such as acts of kindness or prayer times.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with preparing for Easter through some form of self-denial or intentional good works, these will not win us God's favor. If a Christian observes Lent, it should be out of a heart that yearns to truly appreciate the abundant grace of Christ's saving work on the cross. By reminding ourselves of our need and willfully submitting to Christ's authority, we can observe Lent and prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter with a renewed sense of joy and amazement. It is not six weeks of self-discipline to impress others or to impress God. Rather, it is a time of humbling ourselves before God in a demonstration of dependence and thanksgiving.
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