The Bible and Lent
If you are one of the smart ones, you may object to Lent by saying that it is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. If you did say that, you’d actually be right. The word Lent never appears in holy scripture. But neither does “Christmas” or “Easter”, so settle down. What we do during Lent is still inspired by a few important passages from the Bible, such as Nehemiah 9:1-2, Ester 4:1,3 and Daniel 9:3-4. Here they are, in order.
Responding to Sin with Penitence
Everyone sins, and sometimes we respond by admitting our sins and doing what we now call “penitence” Nehemiah 9:1-2 says:
- “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and sackcloth, and with eateth on their heads. Then those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins.”
What the Israelites did is similar to what we do today, when we fast or pray more at certain times of the year like Lent, asking for forgiveness for our sins. They were penitent all together, as a community event! Why should we talk to God more at this time of year? Someone could just as easily say: Why don’t you always pray to God? Well, that really is the ultimate goal, but praying at least during Lent is a good start.
From “Lenten Survival Guide for Kids” By Peter Celano
Written for 7-11 year olds, this playful guide appeals to kids who want to know more about what adults are telling them is a serious time. Without talking down to them, and challenging them to learn and do more, the following topics are explored in detail: What Lent Is, What Lent Definitely Is Not, 40 Days of Survival Tactics, and A Few Prayers and Practices — Only for Kids.
