Lent is a liturgical season of the Church during which we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection – the festival of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this year on February 6th) and concludes the day before Easter.
A common custom on Ash Wednesday is called “The Imposition of Ashes” – a tradition practiced at Hope. During an Ash Wednesday worship service, a mixture of ashes (from the burned remains of palms from Palm Sunday the previous year) and olive oil is placed by the pastor on the forehead of a Christian in the shape of a cross. While doing so, the pastor says, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” It is a reminder of our mortality – the consequence of our sinful condition. And it is a reminder to look to the cross of Jesus for salvation from the consequences of not just what we do, but who we are - sinners. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25.
Different denominations have different traditions or practices during Lent – fasting, almsgiving, abstaining from particular foods (meat in particular), and others. Lutherans, generally speaking, follow some, to none of these traditions. While, any or all of these practices are useful or helpful at any time, we are under no Biblical obligation to do so during the liturgical season of Lent. However, a common practice among Lutherans is to read a Lenten devotion series – one for each day of the season. Lutheran Hour Ministries has two available online for download or podcast. If you are looking for material to read during Lent, these would make excellent choices.
