Do people still give up things for lent? Or even know what it is?
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Do people still give up things for lent? Or even know what it is?
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Lent is a time of getting ready for Easter, a time of sacrifice, often people give up food, chocolate or coffee, or swearing or alcohol or something, as a denial of self.
Well, many people come up to the river on the border, from all over Victoria for Easter, the weather is perfect, sunny days and cooler nights, makes for good sleep too.
There will be tents, campervans, boats, fishing rods, and jet skis, busy service stations, supermarkets full of people looking for chocolate and others munching on hot cross buns. I like the normal hot cross buns, you can get all sorts of hot cross buns now.
Fruit, no fruit, chocolate and different flavours.
I used to buy my children a pack each with their names on them, so no fights.
Easter day would be full of egg hunts and other activities, and of course this has nothing to do with the real meaning.
Let’s get back to Lent……
When Jesus was getting started with his work he went to the desert for 40 days to be alone with God.
He even went without food and prayed, and was tempted away from what God wanted him to do, (because you do get tempted when you are hungry, and 40 days is a super long time) but he resisted that temptation.
You can read that story in Matthew 4:1-11 if you like.
Chaplain Liz Spicer
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During Lent, Christians often do something different too, like praying every day or reading the Bible or denying themselves something like Jesus did.
A time to get closer to Jesus.
Lent originates from the Old English word lencten, meaning spring or springtime, referring to the lengthening of days during the season, of course we are on the other side of the world and it’s our autumn.
But it designates the 40-day, solemn Christian period of fasting and reflection preceding Easter, symbolising Jesus's time in the desert, of giving up food and sacrifice for us.
Maybe we look up Luke 4 or Matthew 4:1-11. Can we give up things without being tempted? I’m not sure.
I believe it is a good thing to try, as I don’t think many of us deny ourselves much these days, as Jesus gave a lot for us, his whole life.
Maybe I should give up hot cross buns? We’ll see, but I will read the Bible reading.
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