Weekly Blog - 21 March 2025 - Lent

Considering how God might be calling each of us to learn and grow in our faith this Lent.

 

Our last few weekly blogs have been on big global issues like overseas aid cuts, European security and global trade tariffs. This week we take a more personal turn as Neil Fix, a member of Arise’s Council of Reference, offers a great personal reflection on what Lent means for us as Christians, and how we can grow in our faith during this season.

 

Lent

Two weeks ago we entered the season of Lent. What is Lent, and why does it often seem so solemn? It's difficult to explain in a way, because, being in the UK, it's something which has just always been around. One of the earliest Christian celebrations, it's been around longer than England, in fact, and, it seems, almost as long as Christianity itself. Another reason it's difficult to explain is that, although it's been around for centuries, it's not at all clear how and when it came into being. We know it wasn't at the start of the development of Christianity, but it was definitely around by the Sixth Century. All we can say for sure though, is that at some point Christians started discussing it as something that was already happening.

We can at least say what it is that was already happening, as it hasn't really changed since then. When I call it a celebration, it's actually very different from what you might think of by that term; as I said before, it's marked by sacrifice. What it is, is a period of prayer and fasting in the run up to Easter. Originally it was just in the immediate run up, being just the week before, known as Holy Week (Easter Week is the week after); but at some point, it became a period of 40 days. This doesn't mean that we have to eat nothing for that long - if you choose to do so, you can, but do it carefully. Some groups that have Lent as part of their calendars have certain requirements, including, for example, giving up eating meat on some days; but none require anyone to stop eating for the entire time.

However, I just mentioned choosing to do so, and that's what I want to say here. A lot of Christians are encouraged to think of Lent as a time of self-sacrifice. It seems that the original idea of using it to prepare for Easter isn't as prominent as it once was. I would like to bring that forward again, and encourage you to think about Easter as you go through this time. Lent is commonly thought of as a time to give something up, and that is still an option, but there is another option - and that is to Do Something Extra. To do something that you wouldn't normally do, something that will cost you, in time if nothing else. You could go to church more often, find something to volunteer at, aim to read the whole Bible during this period. I'm not going to make that decision for you, as I said, it's about you choosing something. Or give up something. Your choice.

If you do choose to give something up, consuming less of a thing costs you less. Which means that absolutely anyone can join in with this in some way. I would also like to make it clear that I said less for a reason. Not only because having less of a thing is still making a difference to your life, but also because some things are a bad idea to cut out completely. Have a look into it, and whatever you choose, do it carefully. The whole idea is to think about Jesus by bringing Easter to mind; so it would be a great idea to involve him as soon as possible. Ask him what he wants you to do, and even if he wants you to do something. He may not want you to do anything, and if you feel that you should, then that in itself brings to mind putting Him first once more.

So why is Lent 40 days? It seems a remarkably specific time. The reason is that, although Lent isn't a festival actually from the Bible, 40 days is a number which appears repeatedly in the Bible. The waters of the flood rose for 40 days, Moses was up Mt Sinai talking with God for 40 days, and most importantly (because it's most alike), Jesus fasted for 40 days before he properly started his ministry.

The detail oriented among you, however, may have noticed that Lent isn't actually 40 days, but rather 46. I suspect that this may be that the first adopters of this as a time of fasting were interested in focusing on Easter weekend as being a thing in itself, separate from Ordinary Time (which is what the next major period in the church calendar is called), and so, to make sure that there were 40 days, decided on 6 weeks from Wednesday to Wednesday as being easy to remember – though no one actually knows. Some people have a break from fasting every Sunday, which brings it down to 40, though I would suggest not doing that. Psychologically, 6 weeks is about the length of time to break a habit, so if you give up something for the whole time, it may well mark a long-term change. Which could be something God wishes to do in you.

So, let’s take this Lent as a time to pray and reflect, to give something up, or to take up something new. But above all to allow God to speak to us and grow us in our walk with him. May this Lent be a blessed season for you, and onwards to Easter!

 

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