What does Lent actually mean?

Ash Wednesday has come and gone, and we are now in the season of Lent. For some, the only way they might know it is the uptick in Friday fish fries (most other years) until Easter. For those more in tune with Christian tradition, there might be other markers. Some observe additional worship services, or special time devoted to prayer or extra devotional time in the study of God’s Word.
Christians might practice certain aspects of self-denial of certain activity or certain foods. In the Lutheran tradition of which I am a part we sing certain seasonal Lenten hymns, and observe a few differences in worship, including refraining from singing “Alleluia” and certain portions of the liturgy, to make them more jubilant when they come out in full force on Easter, in celebration of the Lord’s victory over sin and death. We find much blessing in this annual cycle as it shapes our faith as followers of Jesus Christ.
So what are we to make of this season called “Lent” (so named for the LENgThening of the days this time of year)? It is intended as a season of prayerful and penitential reflection. That word ‘penitence’ is connected with repentance. We are to, with the help of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, to turn from sin and any and all inclinations to sin. Are we to be gloomy and clothed with black? Go ahead if you wish, but that’s not the essence of the season. The essence is to recognize the constant frailty of our humanity, and to continually cast ourselves upon the mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
This frailty and dependence upon Christ was signaled on Ash Wednesday, when many Christians received ashes in the sign of the cross upon the forehead, accompanied with the words ‘Dust you are and to dust you will return.’ Sobering, but in a good and godly kind of way. These words, from Genesis 3:19, are words spoken by God to Adam after he had rebelled in the garden and incurred the fearful curse of death. But amid the curse God also gave a marvelous promise of a Savior to come, who would bring deliverance from sin and its curse, death. This Deliverer is Jesus Christ the Son of God, who came in God’s right timing to shed His own blood in crucifixion and death to atone ALL sin, once for all time.
The Lenten season offers special opportunity to consider Christ’s sacred suffering to save sinners from their sin and from eternal separation from God. Many of our Churches will have special midweek services with hymns that key in on this theme. Quite often a narrative is read from week to week that is compiled from what we call the ‘passion’ portions from each of the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible.

Other passages might be employed, and the preaching seeks to highlight key aspects of what Christ has done for us.
All of this will lead us, over 40 days from Ash Wednesday — not including Sundays — to Easter.
For those who have been following, it will be crystal clear that Easter is not about bunnies, eggs, peeps, chocolate, baskets, or even family gatherings. Easter is about the Resurrection of the Son of God from the death of the cross and His sealed and guarded tomb. His resurrection assures you and me that sin — ALL SIN — has been fully atoned for, and that forgiveness of sins is offered to all who will take hold of it by faith and follow Him. St. Paul, in a great portion of Scripture put it this way:
‘For as by a man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ (I Corinthians 15:21-22) May you, dear reader, have a blessed and meaningful Lent, so that when Easter arrives, you can joyfully exclaim: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Rev. Dr. Paul R. Winningham is pastor of Grace Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Churches in Uniontown and Longtown.