What is Ash Wednesday and Lent?

Lent is a season of 40 days (not counting Sundays). It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). This period of 40 days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan, and preparing to begin his ministry.

In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new believers for baptism. For us, it's a time of repenting, fasting, and preparing our hearts and lives for Easter. This is a time for us to reflect on and examine our relationship with Jesus. During this season, many Christians choose to give up something (time watching T.V. or chocolate) or to volunteer and give to others.

Maybe you're wondering about the last part of the first sentence. Why aren't Sundays counted in Lent? Each Sunday represents a mini-Easter, so the solemn spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

Now, back to the talk of personal penitence and self-denial.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Make no mistake about it, Ash Wednesday is about death. We confront our mortality and confess our sins before God. Think about it this way--to be born again means we have to die. In Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12, Paul speaks about "being buried with him in baptism."

Lent is not about adding spiritual disciplines; it's about submitting more fully to grace. Lent is not about us trying to make ourselves better; it's about us letting go, trusting God, submitting to him, and allowing him to make us more holy. Ultimately, it's about learning how to live the way of Jesus.

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