What is the point of Lent?

I didn’t grow up in a tradition where Lent was observed.  All I knew was that some people chose to give up chocolate for 40 days, most of which they spent feeling pretty miserable. We didn’t observe pancake day in my family either; I still don’t now why. My introduction to that was at the house of my primary school friend, where multiple pans were engaged in a production line of hot goodies that were cooked, flipped and generously sprinkled with lemon and sugar before we fell on them with gusto and a fork. I was hooked, and began to wonder why we’d ignored it for so long.

A quick history lesson shows us that back in AD325, the Council of Nicaea decided to fix the date for Easter each year 

A quick history lesson shows us that back in AD325, the Council of Nicaea decided to fix the date for Easter each year as the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (which explains why it falls on a different date each year, while December 25th remains established as Christmas Day, regardless of which day of the week that may be).  Pope Gregory ‘invented’ Lent in AD601 when he set its date as 46 days before Easter.  That meant that communities could fit in 40 days of fasting – although he allowed one meal per day so long as meat was  excluded – and keep Sundays as feast days.

READ MORE: Lessons for Lent through my own story of loss

Forty days is a repetitive motif through the Bible: it rained on Noah’s ark for 40 days; Moses spent 40 days on Sinai receiving God’s commandments; Jesus’ temptation took place over 40 days in the wilderness. These were times of deprivation and contemplation; times to focus on God.

Lent is, in many ways, the equivalent of Advent in so far as it’s also a season of preparation, waiting, expectation and reflection

Lent is, in many ways, the equivalent of Advent in so far as it’s also a season of preparation, waiting, expectation and reflection before one of the two major events in the Christian calendar. While Christmas is a soft focus affair of open fires, family togetherness, feasting and gifts, Easter (at least before we get to the chocolate part) includes uncomfortable stories of betrayal, aloneness, nails, blood and death. Thankfully, the events of Good Friday give way to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday when Jesus’ victory over sin and death opened the way for us to have a deeper, richer, more intimate relationship with God that would no longer require sacrifice of any sort, ever again.

READ MORE: Those with disordered eating use Lent as an excuse to restrict their food, here’s what they can do instead

For this reason, I find myself somewhat irritated with Lent. Heresy? I don’t think so. It just feels too self-focused for my liking – about what I can achieve, as if that somehow makes me more worthy of God’s love and attention. It can appear to be all about my own self-effort; works rather than faith.

Setting aside time for connecting with God, for self-reflection and realigning ourselves with his ways while intentionally leaning in to hear his voice more clearly are all worthwhile; but why confine them to these 40 days? We could equally say the same of Advent. Surely we’ll want to explore these significant themes thoroughly throughout the year if we’re prioritising walking closely with God.

READ MORE: Prayer can greatly increase your relationship with God this Lent… and here’s how to do it like Jesus

The idea that my foregoing something as inane as chocolate or television is somehow a sacrifice doesn’t sit comfortably with me. In the light of all that Jesus sacrificed – his connection with his Father, the riches of heaven, His very life in order that we might enjoy forgiveness, peace, purpose, divine relationship and the abundant life we were designed for – it all seems rather irrelevant and irreverent.

Will abstaining from certain things during Lent help me focus on God? Maybe; so it could be worthwhile. Will setting personal preferences aside free up time to spend with him instead?  Almost certainly; but it still seems rather a feeble offering in the light of God’s lavish love and generous mercy.

This year, I plan to embrace Lent but know I will need to put in some well thought through boundaries so that my focus is more on him and far less on me.