What’s the meaning of Lent?

As the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship states, , “Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.” Although a solemn time, it is also a hopeful, expectant time of prayer and fasting before acknowledging/celebrating Jesus’ death and then His subsequent defeat of the grave on Easter.

As Pope Francis has shared, this is a period of time where we can strive to abandon idolatry (which is putting anything in our lives above God) as well as the “self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy.” The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship adds, “The Lenten season is set aside for self-examination, spiritual renewal, and growth.”

Lent is all about giving things up, prioritizing prayer and growing closer to God. “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store. — N.T. Wright

When is Lent 2023?

Lent 2023 is the six-week period leading up to Easter.

How long is Lent?

Lent begins 46 days before the Saturday of Easter weekend (Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, April 9, 2023), but is only observed Monday-Saturday each week because every Sunday is viewed as a celebration. Therefore, Lent is observed a total of 40 days.

When does Lent start in 2023?

Lent 2023 starts on “Ash Wednesday,” which is February 22, 2023, ends Saturday, April 8

Humility

Guided by God’s love, people who are humble in spirit invest themselves in what the world thinks is weakness. Christ’s power strengthens us to love God above all and our neighbors as ourselves. Sharing the good news of God’s love and helping others in need, we have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). The world scorns humility. But Jesus Christ’s humility has overcome the world, to the glory of God the Father. Lord Jesus may your mind live in us daily so that your love and power will guide us in all we do and say. Amen

True humility places all the power of “self” in the service of God and neighbor. 

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DAILY DEVOTION