What is Lent?

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer recognized by Christians around the world. Jesus followers who choose to recognize these weeks often fast and observe spiritual disciplines starting on Ash Wednesday, ending at sundown on Maundy Thursday. When observed, Lent is meant to be a time of preparation to celebrate the Jesus’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

Your Roman Catholic friends may also abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, which is why you’ll see celebrations of “fish fry” events during this season. Fish is not considered a meat. Protestants, on the other hand, typically refrain from a variety of foods that they would otherwise enjoy (sweets, sodas, etc.).

Recently a renewed interest in this period encourages not only abstaining from food, but also intentionally practicing acts of generosity, kindness and forgiveness. The intent is to recognize that removing foods from one’s lifestyle don’t necessarily lead to spiritual renewal and transformation. Disciplines and habits during Lent should point Jesus followers towards Christ’s grace, our need for salvation, and reminders to turn away from actions/choices/thoughts that are not pleasing to God (also known as “repentance”). 

During Lent, the San Pedro message series centers on parables from Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark. Dr Stamper also offers a devotional series by email. Sign up to receive them Monday through Friday, HERE.