Do You Lent?

There are many practices that different segments of Christianity do. Some are fairly universal across the board; communion, Easter, Christmas. Others are unique to one segment or another. In the Catholic faith, there are many such practices, such as the rosary, praying to Mary, and daily mass. One of the Catholic practices that I’ve always found as beneficial is the practice of Lent. Lent is the 40 days leading up to sundown on the Thursday before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the season of Lent is to, “seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.”

Although not outlined in the Bible, this is a great way to prepare for the most important day of the year in the Christian calendar, Easter. Many give up things in their lives that are a daily part of their routine during Lent. Some give up social media, others give up television, and others give up their favorite hobbies. These things aren’t evil, but giving them up takes sacrifice and self-discipline. The belief is that this represents Jesus’ sacrifice as He went into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray.

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.”
Luke 4:1–2

In a lot of ways, Jesus’ whole life was sacrifice. Imagine being seated at the right hand of God and being told you’d have to become human and suffer a brutal death at the hands of the people your father had created. Oh, and you have to leave your spot to live on the earth. Then you have to become a baby and relearn how to walk, talk, and reason. You will feel physical pain, endure loss, and grow frustrated as you try to teach 12 young men how to be an extension of yourself in the world. Giving up social media doesn’t seem so awful, does it?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

If we are truly wanting to identify with Christ, then we need to realize that, when we entered into the waters of baptism, we were putting to death the old self and coming out a new creation. We are now no longer about ourselves. We are to live as though Christ Himself is making our decisions. Our desires need to become His desires. Our love should be like His. This is why I love the idea of Lent. Intentionally abstaining from luxuries and fasting during this time helps us to better identify with Jesus as we prepare to celebrate the very event that gave us eternal hope.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

It is much easier to live without the luxuries of the world when our focus isn’t on this world. When we begin to understand that everything in this world will one day be gone, and the only thing left is the eternal, it’s then that we gain better insight into the mind of Christ. Is Jesus worth giving up our social media for? Is His call in our lives more important than our hobbies or social activities? Is the Kingdom of God more important than the University of Kentucky Wildcats or the Ohio State Buckeyes? Our way of thinking has to change in order for us to really be “all in” with Him. Again, this is why I like the meaning behind Lent. Rewiring the way we think takes time and practicing abstinence during times like Lent helps to begin that rewiring process.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:1–6

Simply giving up luxuries or fasting doesn’t do anything if we aren’t obedient. John says here that, “we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” When we start to live as though Christ is in the driver’s seat, we will start to see our decision-making change. Our hearts begin to lean into the things that Jesus desires. By simply giving up our need for those things that aren’t necessarily evil but take up so much of our time, we leave room for Christ in our lives that wasn’t there before. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my lifetime, it’s that our closest relationships need the most time. They need time to grow. They need time to develop. They need time to be given priority in our lives.

Obedience. Time. Abstinence. The time of Lent is a great example of how all three can, not only be practiced but celebrated. I’m not advocating for everyone to become a practicing Catholic, but it’s not a bad idea to take part in a practice that has been going on for over 1500 years. So….do you Lent?