The essence of Lenten season

Nigerian Christians especially Catholics and faithful of some other denominations on Wednesday joined their brethren across the globe to commence the forty days of prayers, fasting, alms giving and abstinence known as the Lenten season, to seek a closer relationship with their creator-God.

We strongly encourage the affected Christians who, are fortunate to witness this year’s Lent not only to fully participate and imbibe its true essence but deeply reflect on Nigeria’s socio-economic predicaments, lingering security challenges which had claimed hundreds of lives,  left millions homeless and massive properties destroyed, in order to seek divine solution to the problems.

Similarly, that insecurity nationwide has worsened since 2009 after the birth of Boko Haram currently manifesting as terrorism and banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings amongst other violent crimes and defied government’s containment has further made it imperative for all, particularly Christians to pray fervently for God’s speedy intervention in the nation’s affairs since no meaningful growth and development can be made amidst continued threats to lives and property.

It must also be emphasized that the 2022 Lent, being the last to be observed before the primaries of parties where flag bearers will emerge for next year’s general election in the country requires spiritual cleansing of the political space so that the right candidates with the fear of God and interests of the greater majority upper most in their hearts are elected.

The holy observance had kicked off with Ash Wednesday (March 2) by Catholics who alongside some other Christians are expected during the period, to replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days where he got tempted by the devil but later triumphed, through fasting, seeking genuine repentance and fervent prayers to fortify their life spiritual journey.

And coming days after Russia declared war on Ukraine with over 2,000 people including children dead already, the raging COVID-19 pandemic as well as other global challenges, the season offers a rare opportunity for faithful to offer special supplications to God, seek His face and join forces with people of goodwill towards amicable resolution of the conflict in order to save humanity from an imminent outbreak of another world war.

According to Merriam-Webster, Lent means “the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting.”

However, it should further be noted that between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday (which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ) many faithful observe a 40-day period known as Lent which  comes from the “Old English lencten springtime, spring” and “from West Germanic langitinaz long-days or lengthening of the day.”

Therefore, we implore Christians to strictly adhere to what has been described as the Christian Traditions of Lent which include prayer, fasting, alms giving and abstinence. As the master key, prayer at this period will not only improve ones communion with God and strengthen his spiritual growth during the preparation of Easter Sunday but have salutary effects on the country.

 It is also firmly rooted in the Scriptures and specifically in the gospel of Mathew 26:41 which states: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”.

Similarly the importance of fasting also, well-known aspect of Lent, is inspired by the fast of Jesus Christ who spent 40 days in the wilderness. In our view therefore, such self denial will certainly increase ones self-control over worldly desires and deepen his spirituality.

Significantly also, we challenge the faithful to embrace alms giving especially to the less fortunate ones in society in view of the hunger and poverty ravaging the land as helping others during and beyond the current season is inspired by the command of Jesus Christ to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Similarly, since observing Lent also guarantees deeper intimacy with God which itself is reward of sacrifice, the period should be used to seek genuine repentance, praise and worship the Lord; to read the Bible more, and to pray more often for blessing and favorable answers to individual prayer including resolution of health concerns and long-standing issues in the country.

Even though Christ did not establish the tradition of Lent as some kind of commandment for his followers to observe, it is a truism that the rewards associated with participating in it cannot be wished away and are of immense benefits not only to believers but the larger society, which in our candid view is the reason why its observance remains very relevant and potent centuries after it began in the Catholic Church.

The high point of the Lenten season for all faithful is the Holy Week which begins with the Palm Sunday, to commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago ahead of his sorrowful passion, death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday which is the basis of Christian faith.

We are of the strong belief therefore, that the lessons learnt during the several weeks of Lent should not be forgotten in a hurry but rather transform the faithful into better and patriotic citizens whose exemplary conduct in both public and private affairs henceforth must be worthy of emulation and guided always by the fear of God and Him alone in the interest of the larger society.

This, in our view, totally aligns with Pope Francis 2022 Lenten message which he anchored on sowing seeds of goodness and taken from a passage from St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all” (6:9-10). The Pontiff further harped on the efficacy of fasting, and charitable giving to reap a bountiful harvest of eternal salvation. We wish our faithful a fruitful Lenten season.