What Lent Means to Me: An Episcopalian

As of February 17, 2010, the Lent season has begun for many Christians around the world. When one thinks of Lent, in general one automatically thinks of the Roman Catholic Church faith. As an Episcopalian though I would like to share with everyone what this deeply symbolic season means to me personally as a believer outside the Roman Catholic Church.

Lent season is "kicked-off" with the start of Ash Wednesday. It was on or slightly before this date that Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It is also the day that Jesus Christ went into the dessert and was separated from all followers, believers and all other supporters for forty days. It is within these forty days that he was tempted by Satan. This symbolic day holds many meanings to believers but many believe it mainly deals with Jesus emulating the time in history when God lead the Israelites across the Red Sea and again "led by the Spirit" into the dessert for forty days.

While Jesus Christ was in the dessert for forty days, he fasted and prayed similar to the forty days that Prophet Moses spent on Mount Sinai. Although the bible does not go into much detail, as Jesus was by himself out in the dessert, many believe he had some food rations but not much. This means that he fasted for the entire forty days without much food if any while being tempted by Satan. It was during this time that Jesus was preparing himself for the mission pre-destined and to affirm his absolute commitment to God. He did not weaken and if anything was strengthened after he stayed true to God during all the difficulties in the dessert. After Jesus came out of the dessert, he was ready to start his missionary work on earth and fulfill his purpose given by God.

Many non-believers assume Christians are more influenced by the birth of Jesus than any other time of the year. This may seem true due to the commercialized attributes by many merchandise marketers but in fact as an Episcopalian, Lent is the most important season of my faith. Lent is the time of the year that I am most influenced to repent of my wrongdoings from the past year. Hence, I take the forty days before Easter to pray and to repent to God. Easter for an Episcopalian is about renewal so it is only fitting that I look deeply into my relationships with friends, family and especially my husband before I renew myself at Easter. In addition, I pray to learn more about myself and how to become a better missionary for God. Jesus Christ went through many temptations during his time in the dessert as he prepared himself for his work ahead of him. So it is only befitting that I look back and see how I could have handled the temptations that Satan threw at me this last year.

Lenten is the season of mourning our past sins and praying for a spiritual renewal or rather rebirth. To instigate this spiritual mourning, my family starts off with Lenten readings to deepen our understandings of the season and our faith. In addition, we tend to fast from one item that is dear to us such as cookies, chocolate, meat, coffee and et cetera. Kids tend to give up something special such as a toy that will be given back after Lent season. Although we do not fast the entire forty days like Jesus did in the dessert, we are reminded daily that we are fasting for a greater purpose and understanding of our faith. It is a time to overcome the presence of defeat over sin, death and the atheistic temptations. And finally we place a great importance on almsgiving.

Hopefully you have a better understanding of this important holiday and understand that not only members of the Roman Catholic Church practice Lent. If you wish to learn more about Lent season please start with a few websites that I enjoy.

Ash Wednesday Activities for Kids

How to Practice Lent

Lenten Readings

Lenten Studies