From The Pastor’s Desk

Hey, Why Do We Do That?

These are Questions and Answers about Christian liturgy and practice.

(If you want to submit a question, I'll do my best to answer it!)

Q: What is Lent?

Historically, Lent is the forty days before Easter, excluding Sundays; it begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5 this year) and ends on Holy Saturday, April 19 (the day before Easter Sunday, April 20). 

Q: Why are Sundays excluded from the reckoning of the forty days? 

Because Sunday is the day we celebrate when Christ arose, fasting and mourning our sins is inappropriate. On Sunday, we must celebrate Christ's resurrection for our salvation. The Sundays of the year are days of celebration.

Q: Why are the forty days called Lent?

They are called Lent because that is the Old English word for spring, the season during which they fall. This is something unique about America. In almost all other languages, its name is a derivative of the Latin term Quadragesima, or "the forty days."

Q: Why is Lent forty days long?

Because forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion, and preparation in the Bible, Moses stayed on the Mountain of God for forty days (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28), the spies were in the land for forty days (Numbers 13:25), Elijah traveled forty days before he reached the cave where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8), Nineveh was given forty days to repent (Jonah 3:4). Most importantly, before undertaking His ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness praying and fasting (Matthew 4:2). Since Lent is a period of prayer and fasting, it is fitting for Christians to imitate their Lord with forty days.  

Come Grow with Us, 

Misty