The original meaning of Lent was 'holy spring'. Traditionally during Lent, Christians prepared themselves for Easter by asking God to show them their failures and by repenting of their wrong-doings.
New Christians would prepare for baptism usually on Easter Sunday. What a marvelous time. A time when you are like an open book with all the old words deleted and waiting for a new chapter to begin with God guiding your writing!
Lent, therefore, is a time for preparation. A time for spiritual spring-cleaning. An opportunity to deal with evil once and for all. Fullstop.
Lent is a time to turn back to God:
'Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind and full of mercy;
He is patient and keeps His promise;
He is always ready to forgive and not punish.'
Joel 2: 13
And it all begins on Ash Wednesday. Christians go to church where a prayer long session takes place at the end of which they have a cross painted on their foreheads as a symbol of this solemn time. All praise to God who gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins.
