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Demystifying Lent
People often ask each other, “What are you giving up for Lent?” But, why do we give something up?
Lent is the period of 40 days and 40 nights leading up to Easter Day. We don’t count the Sundays because Sunday is like a little Easter when we celebrate the risen Jesus in word (the sermon) and sacrament (the Lord’s Supper).
Christians choose to give something up to make this period different from other times of the year.
Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights before he began his ministry (see Luke chapter 4). While Jesus was in the desert he fasted and he experienced temptation. So we fast in a small way to help us identify with the life of Jesus.
When we give up something it is important to take up something as well. This helps to make Lent a time of preparation for our work as followers of Jesus. Often people take up special Bible Study or say extra prayers.
Traditionally Lent is a time for making life far simpler. It is a time to focus on our relationships with God and our fellow human beings. Lent is a time for self-examination, charity and prayer. These things have come to us from the teaching of Jesus (see Matthew chapter 6 especially verses 1-6).
In the church we usually give up singing songs with halleluiah in them and the Gloria which is a hymn of praise to God. The altar is dressed in purple and the priest wears a purple garment called a chasuble. Purple is the colour of repentance. We begin Lent on Ash Wednesday as an act of penance. The ashes from the burnt palm crosses saved from last year are mixed with a little oil and the sign of the cross is marked on our foreheads as a very public way to mark the start of Lent and show our need for forgiveness.
Suggestions for things to give up:
Meat
Alcohol
Dairy
Take away meals (including coffees etc)
Television
Suggestions for things to take up:
Daily Bible reading
Attending church every week
Additional prayer times
Reading a Christian book
Giving to charity
Become informed about a world issue e.g.
www.amnesty.org.au
www.melbourne.anglican.com.au
www.kf2bk.com
www.greenpeace.org.au
Key Days During Lent:
Shrove Tuesday: It is the day before Lent when people enjoy eating up all those foods they will fast from during Lent. It is also called Mardi Grais which simply means Fat Tuesday in French.
Ash Wednesday: Services at St Dunstan’s 10am and 7.30pm where a cross is marked on the forehead with ash. This also a time for prayer and the sharing of the Lord’s Supper.
Palm Sunday: A joyous celebration to remember Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. People wave palm branches like they did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey the first time. At St Dunstan’s 9.30am service we will have a visit from a real donkey.
