Dearly beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart,with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-13
We are entering into another Lenten Season. Lent is a season of forty days, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day between Good Friday and Easter). The last week of Lent is known as Holy Week. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. As we are aware we observe the forty days of Lent, replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for forty days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
Why it is called Lent? : Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten , which means “spring.” Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.
The Colour: Purple is the symbolic colour used and is used for two reasons: firstly because it is associated with mourning, so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion; and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty.
The Forty days: The number forty has much Biblical significance. In Genesis (Gen 7:4), the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by forty days and nights of rain. The Hebrews spent forty years in the wilderness before reaching the land promised to them (Numbers 14:33). Moses fasted for forty days before receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18). Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry (Mathew 4:1-2).
The Lenten season is intentionally set aside for examination,instruction, repentance and prayer. This season is one of preparations for all the people of God. These forty days should lead us to a new covenant relationship with God. It is a time for renewal, devotion, prayer and spiritual nourishment. During the Lenten season, self-examination is crucial. An individual’s response to the call for purposeful reflection on one’s need for God is an important factor in choosing a discipline.
For some, fasting is a means of self-examination and denial;yet, fasting is not an appropriate discipline for all people. The purpose of a Lenten discipline is to strip away from those things which clutter one’s life or hinder one from being in relationship with God. It is also a time for us to experience and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus, in light of personal sin and unrighteousness. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 it says that, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” The great example of this we can see in Jesus, who spent forty days fasting in the wilderness preparing to face the world and its temptations. He overcame the temptations with the divine power of the Word of God. He never defended trying to prove his innocence; instead he was able to portray the greatest example of Self-denial taking up the burden of the Cross.
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said “As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst…’Repent and believe’ Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor – He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.” Some of us want to temporarily give up certain things for Lent as a sign of love for their Savior, that’s fine. But what Christ is really concerned about is what’s in our heart. In this Lenten season let us abstain from what is negative and not good in the presence of God. Let us take more time to praise, pray and worship. Lent is an attitude, live up to it.
“Lent is like a long ‘retreat’ during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God, in order to defeat the temptations of the Evil One. It is a period of spiritual ‘combat’ which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism. ~ “Pope Benedict XVI
May the God Almighty bless and help us to lead a meaningful Lenten season. Let us turn our self to the redeemer. Let God provide us with a new spiritual discipline and attitude.
God Bless You.
Levin Achen
Prayer for LENT
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and for give the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect re-mission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
