Many who do not come from a Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian or Anglican background may not be familiar with the practice of Lent. It is the Christian season of preparation right before Easter. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the season of Lent, which lasts 40 days.
Many Christians from denominations that practice Lent go through a period of fasting, repenting and practicing a spiritual discipline. The purpose is to reflect on how Jesus Christ suffered and sacrificed his life to deliver us from sin and by that he was resurrected from the dead.
Junior computer science major Saleen Sanchez chuckled when admitting that toward the end of Lent, she ends up giving in to what was intended to be a sacrifice.
“I practice the Catholic tradition. I give up two things for Lent and take up one thing, along with the no meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays,” Sanchez said.
According to Sanchez, Lent can be personal for her.
“I think that the purpose of Lent is to better ourselves by giving up something that we focus on a little too much that will allow us to focus more on our relationship with God,” Sanchez said.
Other Christian groups respect the practice, but do not participate in it because it’s not part of their tradition. Junior liberal studies major Desiree Chavez, who comes from a nondenominational Christian background, never experienced Lent growing up.
“It’s something most of my friends practice. It’s a form of their religion, something I didn’t grow up with,” Chavez said. “I think it’s cool that they can go giving up something for that long. I have a friend who is giving up Instagram and Twitter for that whole time. That’s something that I use often and that would be a hard one to give up.”
Pastors around campus have been supportive of the tradition and encourage students of any denomination to participate in order to deepen their relationship with God.
Assistant Campus Pastor Jason Le Shana explained that Lent is about preparation and how people should perceive the tradition.
“It is important to remember that Lent is about preparation for Good Friday and Easter,” Le Shana said. “So, it is helpful to think about it as a preparation time. As I think through what Lent means, since it is a preparation time, a key question to ask is, ‘What does it mean to have a right heart?’ That seems like the crucial thing.”
Lead Campus Pastor Woody Morwood spoke at chapel on Ash Wednesday and encouraged students to take part in this practice as a way to build a relationship with God and allow him to enter their hearts on a deeper level.
Junior communication studies major Tiana Thompson said that she and her family practice Lent by giving up activities or food that have become a distraction in their lives and that take them away from God.
“Lent is great for us as believers to remember it’s not about us and it’s God’s will for us, not our own,” Thompson said. “It’s a great way for us as Christian believers to draw closer to God.”