Good day Marion church family, the season of Lent is almost upon us. Wednesday, March 5 is the beginning of Lent this year. It seems like Lent can sneak up on us if we are not watching the calendar. Often, I will hear people say, oh I forgot about Lent and since I missed the beginning, I’ll “skip” it this year. So, this Sunday we are going to talk a little bit about Lent to remind ourselves and prepare for the observance of Lent.
Though the concept of Lent, which is a season of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, was being articulated as early as the second century, the liturgical season of Lent seems to have taken form in the 4th century. The Council of Nicea (325 AD) called for a gathering of the clergy which was to be held before the forty days of preparation for Easter. By the end of the 4th century, the forty days of Lent had become integrated into the yearly rhythm of the Christian community as they prepared, primarily through the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer, for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
The number forty has both biblical and spiritual significance…
There is the forty years of wandering in the wilderness for the people of Israel.
Moses communed with God on the top of Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, eating no bread nor drinking water, as he inscribed the words of the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone (Exodus 34:28).
Elijah journeyed to Mount Horeb for forty days and forty nights without food nor drink (I Kings 19:8).
Jesus being led by the Spirit, following his baptism, into the wilderness where he fasted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-2).
In each case, whether forty years or forty days, the number forty spoke not only to a span of time but also a span of God’s ongoing presence experienced in trial and temptation, through accumulated wisdom and insight, and by God’s sustaining grace and love.
In that way, the season of Lent mirrors our lives in Christ. Confronted by our humanity, our imperfections, and our brokenness, we cast our gaze on the one who took on our humanity, loved us even with our imperfections, and longs for us to be whole. An interesting thing happens when we honestly look within, release control, and confess our dependence. Instead of losing power, we open ourselves to new strength. We empty ourselves of self-delusion and self-satisfaction, and we are filled with new identity, our identity in Christ, and the journey of Lent commences.
The season of Lent is an invitation to be intentional about pressing in a little closer to Jesus. In our daily lives, we can become distracted by many things. If we do not slow down and take time to perform a spiritual inventory, we can miss what God is doing in the word and wanting to do in our lives. The season of Lent presents an opportunity to reflect on the state of our spiritual lives, to deepen relationships and, above all, to anticipate the joy of Easter!
If you want to read more about Lent, I found this article interesting…
https://mosaicmennonites.org/2022/03/23/lent-anabaptists-and-sausage
~ Pastor Dustin
