Growing up, I had no idea what Lent was. I only knew that once a year some people walked around with ashes on their foreheads. I thought this was strange—“something that only certain people like Roman Catholics do.” The fact is that anything we are not familiar with can seem strange. To make things worse, some people have only been exposed to very lame applications of Lent, like giving up chocolate for the 40 days leading up to Easter. As I’ve entered into ministry and began to explore the historic practices of the Church, I’ve come to realize that there is so much more that Lent can provide. I have grown to love what it represents, and to appreciate how it provides an outward demonstration of the work that Christ seeks to do within us.
Some people have only been exposed to very lame applications of Lent, like giving up chocolate for the 40 days leading up to Easter.
The Real Heart of Lent
In the Book of Common Prayer 2019, the service of Ash Wednesday has this invitation to Christians as they enter the season:
Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful, were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. In this manner, the whole Congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need that all Christians continually have to renew our repentance and faith.
Many do not realize that, historically, Lent was dedicated to preparation for baptism. It was taken very seriously as a time for those preparing to enter full membership in the Church to strike the last blow to the world and flesh through the deliberate and dedicated discipline of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It was a time to ensure that the gospel call to “repent and believe” (especially the “repentance” part, so often neglected today), was taken seriously by all disciples—new and old.
Reframing Lent as a Gift
Lent becomes more meaningful when we begin to see it as a blessing handed down from brothers and sisters of the past. Do not think of Lent as a burden to carry; think of it as a gift to unwrap. It is an invitation to step out of the rush, quiet the noise, and remember that God is closer than we think, though we are often just too busy to notice. It is a call to draw near to God and go deeper spiritually.
Do not think of Lent as a burden to carry; think of it as a gift to unwrap.
At the start of Lent, you don’t have to overhaul your life—just start small. Punctuate your waking up with extra prayer. Consider dedicating yourself to say the Lord’s Prayer three times a day, as set forth in the Didache. Take a break from scrolling on your phone to listen more closely for the Spirit’s whisper. If there is some kind of food item you fast, dedicate the money you would have spent on it to give to the poor (this practice has been a cornerstone of Lent for most of its history). Do one kind thing that no one notices.
Small practices can make space for grace to do its quiet work. Lent isn’t about proving devotion; it’s about rediscovering delight in God’s presence. When we see it this way, Lent is less about what we give up and more about what we receive: freedom, clarity, and the deep joy that comes when grace moves from theory to experience.
The Easter Connection
As we draw close to God through Lent, we must always remember that Lent is not to be understood alone and disconnected from its place in the Church calendar. The 40 days of Lent, commemorating Christ’s time in the wilderness, lead up to Easter. The glory and beauty of the resurrected Christ is revealed, the promise of new life is fulfilled, and nothing is ever the same. The 40 days of Lent are not just pure self-denial, but preparation for the fulness of the work of Jesus to have room and take deeper root in our lives. Just as Jesus speaks of the seed that so often gets choked out because it was sown in ground full of weeds, our lives can get cluttered and in need of clearing to truly appreciate what Jesus has done for us and the world. Lent clears the weeds so that the seed of Easter can bear more fruit.
Lent clears the weeds so that the seed of Easter can bear more fruit.
Invitation and Encouragement
Lent is not about being “liturgical.” You don’t have to embrace every detail of the traditional Lenten practices. You can start small. Let the season of Lent become a quiet, deliberate journey toward Easter—a time to reflect, repent, and rediscover grace. Lent won’t save you, but it might help you remember the One who did. Even if you’ve never liked Lent, consider giving it a second look this year, not as a ritual to perform, but as a way to know Jesus more deeply.
