Ready to go on a journey? The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday (this year on March 2). The cross of ashes that is imposed on our forehead, together with those somber words which are spoken, “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19), remind us of a sobering truth: we are mortal; we are but dust and ashes. How relevant is Lent today? We are bombarded with messages through advertising and media encouraging us to indulge ourselves because we deserve it. Lent calls us to self-denial. We live in a place where there is an over-abundance of food and a dizzying array of choices of what to eat. Lent calls us to abstain and fast. We see people who stand in the medians of street corners and intersections, holding up signs that ask for our assistance, and we try to avoid eye contact. Lent calls us to almsgiving. In many ways, these forty days of Lent are counter-cultural, and that is a good thing. In spite of all the baggage that attends the season of Lent, it is incredibly relevant for life today.

The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word, lengten, meaning springtime. This is appropriate because the Lenten season coincides with the springtime, at least in the northern hemisphere. As the northern hemisphere turns toward the sun, which gives life to the world, so the Lenten season calls us to turn toward the Son, who gave his life for the world. The words of the prophet Joel are a constant call in Lent, reminding us: “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:13). At all times in our journey of faith, but especially in the Lenten season, we are called to turn away from everything that leads us away from God, and we are called to return to the Lord with repentance.

The three traditional disciplines of the Lenten season – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – are not good works that we parade before God in an attempt to earn special favor. Understood from a perspective of grace, these become a response of love to the God who so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son for us (John 3:16). Within that word “discipline” is the word “disciple.” Disciples engage in various disciplines that help them grow and mature. In his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus speaks to his disciples about these disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but Jesus calls on us to engage in these things not for show or to be seen by others, but from a spirit of humility. In fact, Jesus goes so far to say that these practices should be done in secret, “and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  

Prayer is inextricably tied with Scripture. In holy Scripture, God speaks to us. In prayer, we speak back to God. Our prayer life must be rooted in the Word of God, so that out of what God has spoken to us, we know how we are to speak to God. As young children, this is how we first learn to talk. We say back to our parents what they have said to us: “Mama… Daddy…” In a very real way, this is how we learn to talk with God, by repeating back to him what he has already said to us. And from this, our prayer life deepens and grows into prayers of adoration, intercession, thanksgiving, supplication, and more. In this Lenten season, consider how you can deepen your own prayer life. Set aside time to be in God’s Word and be blessed through this. As many have pointed out, we do not so much read Scripture as Scripture reads us! And from this reading, pray over what you are reading, asking the Lord for guidance and understanding. With the help of the Holy Spirit, this holy habit formed in the forty days of Lent will become an ongoing part of daily life, as much a part of the day as brushing your teeth, having your cup of coffee, etc.

Fasting is especially associated with Lent. Often the only time we think of fasting today is in preparation for bloodwork or a medical procedure. But there is so much more! “Foodstores in earliest spring are at their lowest. Animals are calving or laying eggs. Lenten fasting has its origins in these rhythms of nature. For 40 days we remind ourselves that the earth is like Noah’s ark, all creatures gravely dependent on each other. Lenten fasting is a participation in the new birth of this season” (Keeping Lent, Triduum & Eastertime. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988; p. 9). Along with this is the deep association of prayer and fasting that we find in Scripture. Fasting is an outward sign of an inward repentance. To empty ourselves in order to seek the Lord’s face has a longstanding history and use in faith. Fasting takes many forms. It may be going without a meal, or a liquid-only fast, or a day-long fast from all foods. But it’s important to bear in mind that fasting does not make us more worthy of God’s love because we have denied ourselves food for a time. As Luther writes in his Small Catechism on the Sacrament of the Altar: “Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly find outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’” If you are not familiar with fasting or have not engaged in this yourself, please talk with someone who has in order to gain more insight into this spiritual discipline.

Almsgiving is the third discipline associated with the Lenten season. The word “alms” comes from the Greek word, eleos, meaning mercy or pity. Especially in the Lenten season, our worship includes the Kyrie eleison: “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.” The good news of the Gospel is that in Jesus, God’s own beloved Son, God has indeed had mercy on us all. The cross reminds us of the price which Jesus willingly paid in our behalf: his very life. And now, flowing out of that sacrifice of love, Jesus calls us to have mercy on those in need around us. Almsgiving can take many forms. It may be financial help, but it may be help in kind: food, clothing, and other assistance. In a mysterious and wonderful way, Jesus tells us that in giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, welcoming the stranger, visiting the sick and imprisoned, we are actually ministering to Jesus himself (Matthew 25:31-46). Such acts of kindness have the potential to change lives, and thereby, change the world.

May your Lenten season be blessed with these disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving which help us look forward to the coming joy of Christ’s resurrection at Easter.