WHAT IS LENT?

This coming Wednesday, all Christians will organize their thoughts and actions to celebrate the season of Lent, and allow me space to make a brief comment about the period that ushered us into benefiting from the Forgiveness that has paved the way for sinful humanity to receive the grace of God. 

1.  INTRODUCTION:- Lent is a Christian season which falls forty  ( 40 ) days and nights prior to the trial, mockery, and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The purpose for which Jesus Christ came to die for sinful humanity was to build the bridge between sinful humanity and a righteous God.

The period of Lent is from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday; the day Jesus Christ was subjected to the kangaroo trial under the Roman authorities.

Lent is also a period when sinful humanity realizes their faults, weaknesses, and disobedience and sins and make penance and ask for forgiveness through prayers and fasting.

2.   ASH WEDNESDAY
This is the first day of the penitentiary season of Lent. This day of ashes reminds sinful humanity of their sins and make a sign of the cross on their foreheads as a sign of their unworthiness.

This custom was introduced by Pope Gregory 1, Bishop of Rome from 590 to 604 AD.

3.   WHY ASHES?
Basically, Ashes are worthless. No amount of painting can make them beautiful, and no volume of spraying perfume on them can make them smell good. And so it is with people.

No matter how much righteous paint we cover ourselves with, and virtuous perfume we spray on ourselves; what we are left with are thoughts and feelings and actions that are rebellious and disobedience, which are best buried and forgotten.

4.   WHAT TO GIVE UP?
Lent is a period of giving up things of the flesh and asking Jesus Christ to recreate us to obey and and get closer to God.

--We give up grumbling, and instead give thanks;

--We give up moaning, groaning, whining, and complaining and rather trust in God.

--We give up things of our comfort zones and rather show concern.

--We give up speaking unkindly about others and rather encourage people

--We give up greed, jealousy, impurity, immorality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, anger, selfishness, envy, dissention, party spirit, drunkenness, carousing, lying tongue, and all other sinful acts; and rather bear the fruit of the Spirit.

This includes love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. ( Galatians 5 : 19 - 23 )

--We give up worries and anxieties  ( Psalm 55 : 22 )

--We offer virtues that build up individuals and families, and  the community.

5.   LENT ACRONYM      
L--LOVE :- We should love our neighbors as ourselves and try to help those in need. (Luke 10 : 30 -37 )

E --Endure hardships and life's challenges with faith. (1Cor. 15 : 58; 2 Cor 4 : 7-11 )

N--Newness of Life. In times as this we need to put on new clothes of humility, obedience, and faithfulness.

T --Trust:- Let us build solid trust in God for all our needs. (Philippians 4 : 19; Isaiah 43 : 1 - 13 )

Thanks for your attention and God richly bless you. Amen