A Guide for the Season of Lent

February 14 - March 30, 2024

February 07, 2024

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian gospel, and Good Friday and Easter are two of the most significant celebrations of the Christian year. Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.

The practice of a forty-day preparation period began in the Christian church during the third and fourth centuries. The number forty carries biblical significance based on the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness and Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness. The forty days of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday and continue into Holy Week (not counting Sundays which are reserved for celebratory worship). Many choose to fast in Lent, at least to some extent, or give up something else they are fond of. The idea is to imitate Jesus' fast in the wilderness, to express remorse for sin, to discipline one's life, to save something extra for the poor, and, not least, to sharpen the appetite for Easter feasting.

What can I do?

Over the next several weeks leading up to Easter, resources will be made available to you to help you focus your attention on Christ, prayer & the Word, and service to others. Consider the following questions to help you get started:

What things in my life might I consider to have a degree of control over me apart from Christ? (i.e. I think I can't live without, it affects my behaviour, it takes priority over Christ)

If I were to consider fasting from something for the 40 days (not Sundays), how might it help me take the focus of self-indulgence and the things I think I “need” and place it more on Christ?

What times and opportunities for prayer will be a key part of my journey through Lent?

What is my plan for engaging God's Word throughout Lent? What resources or guides might I use to assist me in this?

How will I seek to deepen my relationship with Christ through serving others?

Visit www.legacynazarene.ca for Lenten resources.