Lent is the 40 days that precede Easter (excluding Sundays).

In the Christian Scriptures, the number 40 relates to the period spent in the ark by Noah, the period spent by Israel seeking the Promised Land after the Exodus, and the amount of time Jesus was in the wilderness after His baptism and prior to the beginning of his ministry. For us, the season of Lent is an invitation to 40 days of renewal (“Lent” means “spring”) and 40 days to prepare ourselves to take in the Good News of Easter through deeper disciplines of prayer, fasting and sacrifice. 

Lent begins on what is called “Ash Wednesday.”  Part of the tradition of Ash Wednesday is to receive a mark of ashes on your forehead.

Receiving the ashes reminds us that God’s love is triumphant over sin and death, and that God remains “in communion” with us, that in Christ, our mortality is overcome.

Another important tradition in Lent is to sacrifice something or give up something for Lent. For example, some people will give up television, others will give up eating meat, some will give up beer or coffee, others may give up gossiping.

I encourage you to make a true sacrifice this Lenten season.

My Lenten sacrifice is:

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