What’s the Deal with Lent?

Like the days lengthen in spring, we are supposed to work on lengthening or growing spiritually during Lent.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the first official day of Lent. I was raised in a small country church where Lent was never discussed. My Catholic cousins observed Lent, but throughout my childhood, I just though it was a Catholic thing. Not surprisingly, I was wrong.

The observance of Lent is not found in the Bible, but is a church tradition found in most Christian churches. It’s a period of self-examination and repentance that began in 325 AD. It originated with the Council of Nicea and differed in different churches. Gregory the Great, (540-604), moved it to Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.

The ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, represent he Biblical symbols of repentance, (ashes and sackcloth), as well as our own mortality. Genesis 3:19 tells us, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.”

It lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays, because they are considered feast days and ends with the celebration of Easter. The 40 days come from Matthew 4:1-2, where Jesus was led out to the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil.

The English word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning “to lengthen.” We are supposed to take the period of Lent and lengthen or grow spiritually.

Last year for Lent, I lead a virtual Bible study for some ladies in my church. There were many of us who were interested in participating in a Bible study, but no one had the time. After some thought and prayer, I pitched the idea of a virtual study of the Book of Acts for Lent. I divided the book into easy to read chunks and we would read it each day, Monday through Friday. I would initially write my thoughts and we would respond to each other.

I created a blog and we gave it a try. It was fabulous. I don’t know when I have learned so much or felt so blessed. It also lead me here to Gracefulgaines.

This year, I feel lead to try it again in this space. I am going to take the 40 days of Lent and do a Bible study on the Gospel of John. There are four Gospels and three are very similar. They are called the Synoptic Gospels. John is a little different from the other three which is why I chose it.

It was written by the apostle John, someone who walked with Jesus. It will take us all the way through Jesus’ ministry to his death and resurrection. I have two translations I usually refer to and they are the NLT (the one my teenager can read), and the NIV, but can easily access any translation you like on the internet.

I have people tell me all of the time that they really would like to read the Bible, but they get so bogged down and can’t figure out the meaning. So, I’m inviting you to join me for Lent in a Bible study. I’m inviting you to share scripture with me as well as your thoughts. I’m inviting you to lengthen spiritually as we observe Lent together.

Our church motto where Lent is concerned is either, “put something down or take something up.” I hope you will take something up. If you choose to read along, I will have the daily reading at the top of my daily posts and a full list under the categories banner on the right side. If you get behind, you can use the weekends to catch up.

I am really excited about this journey and I hope you will join me.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂