This is the second in a short series on Lent.

Lent is based off of a period of 40 days ranging from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Anyone with a decent ability to read a calendar will notice 44 days. Many but not all observants of Lent abstain their sacrifices on each of the four Sundays that fall between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. These four Sundays are seen as mini-Easters. Whatever was being sacrificed can be enjoyed again on these days for the glory of God because Christ has risen.

The obvious question is why did the Early Church practice this? Why didn’t they just start Lent on a Sunday and do 40 straight days from whatever that day was till Easter day? There are several reasons.

First, the Early Christians took Sunday very seriously. Jesus is believed to have been raised from the dead on a Sunday (John 20:1). The Early Church worshiped on Sundays together (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). Sunday was a special day because of Christ resurrection.

Second, historically and traditionally speaking Sunday for the majority of Christians is suppose to be a day of rest and for them to celebrate the joy found in the resurrection of Christ. Sunday isn’t suppose to be about suffering and toil. That is the rest of the week. Sunday is suppose to be about joy and redemption. It is for most Christians the Christian version of Sabbath.

Third, each Sunday in Lent is seen as mini-episode or previews of the joy of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is not just the celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. It is a celebration of Jesus ultimate victory over sin and the end of sacrifice. Many of us sacrifice stuff, relationships, and other things to follow Christ. For many in the history of the Church to be a Christian means to be willing to sacrifice your life for your profession of faith. Easter prefigures the ending of sacrifice and the beginning of joy. One day for the people of God there will be no more sacrifice ever, only joy.

So how does this apply practically to adherents practicing Lent in century 21? When we give up for a week at a time be it some staple of life or a frequently used luxury then it produces at least two things. First it links us with a small taste of what Jesus went through. It also links us with those who have suffered much for their faith. We begin to realize how much we often focus on selfish things especially ourselves. It makes us hopefully realize that we often are seeking to find our joy in objects or ourselves and not in God or with our fellow Christian and fellow man. When we realize that we often focus on the wrong thing for the wrong reason then we are open to the Spirit’s correction. Lent is about Christ victory over sin and death but it is also very much about the Holy Spirit moving us towards repentance.

The single most important reason for each mini-Easter Sunday is that like Easter it is a way for us to experience a day that affirms Jesus ministry, death, and specifically in his resurrection the beginning of our redemption. This is the ultimate joy of the Christian. Easter proves that the gospel is a true message for all of us. Our temporary sacrifices may appear great in the moment but there is greater joy available in the midst of sacrifice if we persevere and look for the joy that is found in Christ resurrection.