The day before the start of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is called Shrove Tuesday.  It is also called Marti Gras and Fat Tuesday; the latter two being about celebrating before the six weeks of fasting and penitence that is Lent.

Shrove Tuesday was originally a Christian religious day when one “strove to be shrove” so to say (just came up with that one, feel free to use it!).  That is to say, “shrove” comes from the word “shrive” meaning to confess one’s sins and be absolved.  The goal was to be “shriven”—having confessed and been forgiven.

This certainly is an overarching theme and goal of the season of Lent.  Every year, however, this seems like an oversimplification of Lent.  Every year, I feel the need to re-define this important season because people avoid it (and church) because they don’t want to get lost in a spirituality of guilt and penance. 

So what is Lent?

Lent is an ancient Christian season lasting six weeks until Easter.  It is forty days long but does not include Sundays.  This is because while the season of Lent is to be used to introspectively evaluate one’s self with an eye to our inadequacy and sin, every Sunday is to be thought of as a “mini-Easter”.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday during which the tone is set for a season of confession and a striving to find solidarity with Christ’s suffering on the cross.  

The culmination of this season is Holy Week which begins with Palm Sunday and includes Maundy Thursday’s remembrance of the Last Supper, Good Friday’s remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ, Holy Saturday’s vigil at the tomb of Christ, and Easter Sunday’s welcome of the resurrection.

During Lent people traditionally give things up that inhibit their connection to God.  This is often indulgences of one kind or another.  

All of that said, what is at the heart of Lent?  Quite simply, it is an invitation to draw closer to God and renew your relationship with your divine companion in this life; Jesus Christ.

It is a time of spiritual evaluation and a time of enacting the ministry of Christ in meaningful ways through acts of service.

Lent needn’t be a downer.  I pray that it is for you, instead, a rewarding time of faith formation.

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic