Lent

[Larry]

I will be observing Lent this year. I am an Anglican. We’re a liturgical church that celebrates various seasons of the church year. On Ash Wednesday we will be given this charge from the Book of Common Prayer:

"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 them by a season of penitence and fasting. The 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 to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

"We invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observation of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word."

So that is my plan.

[stevene]

Does eating chocolate take time? I guess it's an example of both benefits...

[Larry]

Stevene wrote "If you give up something precious, like chocolate, then every time you crave chocolate becomes a reminder to praise God for His sacrifice." Amen!

Furthermore, if you give up something that takes up time, that frees up time to spend praying, reading, and meditating on God's word.

[stevene]

I do find that an awareness of Lent brings me closer to God, because it reminds me of John 3:16 and Jesus' sacrifice. If you "give something up for lent" it's an opportunity to be reminded of the spiritual thing which we take for granted too often. If you give up something precious, like chocolate, then every time you crave chocolate becomes a reminder to praise God for His sacrifice.

And so the Book of Common Prayer, as quoted by our resident cucumber, says, "Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith."

Thanks, Larry, for bringing this to the forefront for all of us to ponder, whether or not we "observe Lent."

[Jen Avila]

I thought it was something that was supposed to bring you closer to God through obedience. And to get you to focus on the sacrifice that God made. Maybe I don't understand it very well. I have never given anything up for Lent because I don't "get" it.

[Jose Torres]

cool!

[Larry]

That is where a true understanding of Justification by Faith is liberating. We are already justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, and there is nothing, not a single thing, that we can do of our own merits that can add to that.

[Jose Torres]

I guess as long as you don't take this practice as a self-righteous thing to make yourself worthy to God its Ok for you to observe this tradition. That's just my opinion, what do you think?