The word Lent itself is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning Spring, and lenctentid, which literally means not only Springtide but also was the word for March, the month in which the majority of Lent falls. Since the earliest times of the Church, there is evidence of some kind of Lenten preparation for Easter. The 40 day duration of Lenten practices Lent became more regularized after the legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313. By the end of the fourth century, the 40-day period of Easter preparation known as Lent existed and was practiced throughout the Church. Prayer and fasting constituted its primary spiritual exercises. Of course, the number 40 has special Biblical spiritual significance regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water (Ex 34:28). Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert before He began His public ministry (Mt 4:2).
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:05:32 +0000