Lengthening Through Lent
- Tim Ahlman
- 18 minutes ago
- 2 min read
What does the word “lent” actually mean? Isn’t that funny? I’ve been “lenting” (yes, I made up a word) for almost 45 years, and I have no idea the origin of the word “lent.” My curiosity led me to ask Google. (It’s crazy how quickly we can find answers today.) Let me share what
I discovered.
The original meaning of the word “lent” comes from the Old English word lencten, which means “springtime” or “lengthening,” referring to the time of year when days begin to get longer. It has no initial religious significance, but was later adopted to represent the 40-day, church-mandated period of fasting and prayer.
In short, “lent” means the lengthening of days every spring. I love light and longer days for fun in the sun. Spring means new life, growth, baseball, and summer vacations are quickly approaching.
In our Christian tradition, Lent helps me remember that as the individual days lengthen, my lifespan will not lengthen. My lifespan will end, my breath and heart will stop. Lent invites me to linger with the fragility of my existence. From dust I came—To dust I will return.
I wonder why church leaders, at some point, decided to use “Lent” to signify our 40-day march to the cross. I wonder if “lengthening of days,” even in the midst of our sorrow over sin and the grave, was meant to offer our hearts hope. Hope that the darkness is being pushed back by the light. Hope that the darkness of death is being pushed back by the light of God’s love in Christ.
Honestly, I don’t know why the early church (I assume) chose Lent as the word to mark this 40-day period (minus Sundays, which are called to be “mini-Easters”). Google didn’t know this answer. Do any of you?
Here is something else I discovered: Lent was also a season used by the early Christians to prepare converts for baptism, which traditionally took place at Easter. What an awesome tradition! Baptism symbolized the “lengthening of days” as eternal life, through the Holy Spirit, was given through water and the Word. Baptism gives forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Baptism reminds us our days will be lengthened into an eternity with Christ and all of the saints—past, present and future.
Lent has become a season of the church heart for deprivation—fast, abstain, deny self—mirroring Jesus’ deprivation. Lent invites us to lengthen our sole dependence on Christ.
Hopefully you learned something new about Lent. Even in the midst of the solemn nature of this season in the church year, there is still hope. Just as spring documents the lengthening of our days, Lent leads us to the only One who can eternally lengthen our days—Jesus Christ.