By Pastor Kyle Smith
Ellendale
The time of the Lenten Season is quickly approaching! One funny thing about the Season of Lent is that some people see it as a sad, gloomy, season, while others see it as a happy, bright, season. Well, which is it? Is Lent gloomy or bright?
Before answering that question, we have to mention the purpose of the Lenten Season. Celebrating the Season of Lent is nothing new. Lent was first officially recognized way back at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 - this means Christians around the world have been officially celebrating the Season of Lent for nearly 1,700 years. However, the Council of Nicaea didn’t begin the observing of the Season of Lent, rather they officially recognized the observance of the season, which is believed to find its roots back in the apostolic age. In other words, celebrating the Season of Lent is about as “early church” as you can get!
In a way, the Season of Lent is much like the Season of Advent. In the Season of Advent, we take time to have a specific focus on preparing ourselves for the birth of Jesus, while when we observe the Season of Lent we are preparing ourselves and being prepared for the death and resurrection of Jesus on Good Friday/Easter Sunday. When we take the time during Lent to prepare for the resurrection of Jesus, our hearts begin to be excited, long for, and yearn for Easter morning.
Speaking from my own experience, once you observe Lent as it ought to be observed, you aren’t going to want to miss it again! After our twin boys were born, my wife and I, after attending a couple of Lenten Services, decided it was best to take a one-year break from Lenten Services, not because we wanted to, but with a 20-minute drive to church, not getting home until after the twin’s bedtime, and the overall stress of being new parents made us feel that was the best decision for our family. But after the Easter morning service, we both agreed that Easter morning just wasn’t the same without having faithfully observed the Lenten Season. Our hearts weren’t quite as ready for Easter as they had been in the past, we weren’t as excited about Easter as we had been in the past, and we overall simply weren’t prepared for Easter.
So how do we prepare for Easter? One way we can prepare is by giving something up for Lent, perhaps alcohol, social media, sweet foods, or even the occasional fasting altogether. The point of giving up something for Lent is not meant to be simply restrictive, but rather it is meant to be a restriction that points us to and is a reminder of the sufferings and death of Jesus who paid for our sins - what a gift to have a special means in which to encourage a focus on this wonderful news!
Another way to prepare for Lent is to gather together for Lenten Services, beginning on Ash Wednesday through Good Friday. One thing that is different during our Lenten Services is that instead of a general Confession of Sin as we have on Sunday mornings, we examine ourselves as directed in the Small Catechism, by using the words of the 10 commandments. In the 10 commandments we are reminded of who God is, and, as His children, He expects us to be holy as He is Holy. But we aren’t holy as He is holy, and we confess our sin and receive forgiveness.
So, is Lent gloomy or bright? It’s both! But mostly bright. On the one hand, Lent is gloomy in that we take time to focus on the severity of our sin, which brings us down and discourages us. And yet, Lent is also bright because we also focus on what Jesus went through to save us from our sin. Praise God that He didn’t leave us in our sin, but sent His Son to redeem us from sin and darkness and restore us unto Himself, even at the heavy cost of Jesus’ life.
This reminds me of the fourth stanza of one of my favorite Lenten Hymns, What Wondrous Love is This, “And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing His love for me, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and through eternity I’ll sing on.” This is just what Jesus does for us. He frees us from sin, death, and the devil, bringing us into eternal life that starts now and lasts forever. I hope to see you at our Lenten Services!