BY REV FR GERALD NWAFOR
The Lenten season is a sacred invitation to return to the heart of God. For over two thousand years, Christians across the world have set aside these forty days as a time to pray, to fast, and to love more deeply.
Sidebar: Please do not take the forty days literally; remove Sundays while counting the days because I have lost count of how many times my students challenged my mathematics prowess simply because the days of Lent from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday are forty-six. You must have subtracted the six days to get the forty.
Now, back to business, from the early centuries of the Church until today, Lent has been proclaimed as the holiest and most reflective season in Christendom. It is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a spiritual journey. It is a time to fine-tune our lives, to resharpen our conscience, and to reshape our behavior, character, and thoughts in the image of Jesus Christ.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when ashes are placed on our foreheads with the solemn reminder: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words humble us. They call us to repent. They remind us that life is fragile and that our true treasure is not in material possessions but in righteousness and love. From that day until Easter, Christians walk a path that leads to the Cross and ultimately to the joy of the Resurrection. There are two other optional forms of words invoked during the imposition of the ashes on Ash Wednesday: “Repent and believe in the gospel,” “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” So do not quarrel with the priest if he does not use the one familiar to you.
To speak of Lent is to speak of love. You cannot separate the Lenten season from the commandment to love your neighbor. And you cannot speak of loving your neighbor without acknowledging the Creator who made us all in His image. Love is the center of Lent because love is the center of Christianity. The passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ show us that true love gives, serves, and sacrifices.
He did not merely preach love; He demonstrated it by laying down His life for humanity. Who can send this line to the Nigerian politicians? Service and sacrifice should be the watchword, not embezzlement and corruption.
Therefore, Lent is not only a time to abstain from food or pleasures; it is a time to abstain from hatred, envy, greed, pride, and selfishness. It is a season to reduce our vices and cultivate virtues. If we fast from food but do not fast from anger, we miss the meaning of Lent. If we pray with our lips but refuse to forgive in our hearts, we have not yet understood the Cross. Lent calls us to interior transformation. It challenges us to become better versions of ourselves, more patient, more generous, more compassionate.
Although Lent is traditionally a time of fasting, it is also a time of giving. It may be a season of fasting, but it must be a season of sharing. If you have two pairs of shoes, give one to someone who has none. If your wardrobe is filled with clothes you have not worn for years, bring them out and clothe the poor. If your table is blessed with abundant food (Shawama, Okpa, Ukwa, Akara, Okpete, kulikuli, Akidi, Yam, and Cassava), invite someone hungry to eat with you. The paradox of Lent is this: while we deny ourselves, we do not deny others. We simplify our lives so that others may live with dignity.
Lent reminds us that Christianity is not a title; it is a practice. You cannot be Christian by nomenclature alone. You must be Christian by action. Christianity is a “doing” word. Love is a “doing” word. Faith is a “doing” word. During this holy season, the world should see in us the name we bear. Our neighbors should feel in us the kindness of Christ. The vulnerable should find protection in us. The weak should find in us strength. The lonely should find in us companionship.
In a beautiful coincidence this year, the Lenten season began around the same time as Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims also fast, pray, and give alms. This convergence of sacred seasons is a powerful reminder, especially in nations like Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims live side by side. It is an opportunity for the two major religions to show the world that faith should produce peace, not division: compassion, not conflict.
When Christians observe Lent and Muslims observe Ramadan simultaneously, the message to humanity is clear: God calls us to discipline, to generosity, and to reconciliation. Both traditions emphasize prayer, self-denial, and charity. Both call believers to look beyond themselves and to remember the poor. In a world often torn apart by misunderstanding and violence, these sacred seasons should inspire cooperation, mutual respect, and shared service to humanity.
Lent also invites us to meditate on the Passion, the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. As we reflect on His journey to Calvary, we are reminded that love is costly. Sacrifice is not comfortable. Forgiveness is not easy. Yet, through sacrifice, redemption comes. Through the Cross, hope is born. When we say that Christ died for us, we must also ask ourselves: are we ready to live and even sacrifice for others? Are we willing to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of someone in need? Are we prepared to defend the vulnerable, to speak for the voiceless, to protect the weak?
It is not a time to do evil. It is a time to uproot evil from our hearts. It is not a time to make merry in excess, but it is a time to bring genuine happiness to someone else. Visit the sick. Comfort the grieving. Mentor a young person. Reconcile with someone you have wronged. Offer your wisdom, your time, and your strength to those who lack support.
In doing so, you bring Christ to the world more effectively than any sermon could.
Lent should never pass us by as just another season. It is a divine appointment. It is a yearly opportunity to reset our spiritual compass. It reminds us that life is not about accumulation but about donation; not about dominance but about service; not about being served but about serving. Serve to the point that it hurts.
As we journey through this sacred season, may our prayers be sincere, our fasting be meaningful, and our charity be generous. May we step out of our comfort zones to love our neighbors intentionally. May we remember that every human being we encounter carries the image of the Creator. And may the world, seeing our good works, recognize the spirit of Christ alive in us.
For in the end, Lent is about transformation. It is about becoming more like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. It is about proving that the name “Christian” is not merely spoken but lived. And when Easter arrives, may it find us renewed people who have prayed more deeply, fasted more sincerely, loved more generously, and given more freely. Only then can we truly say that we have walked the Lenten path and carried Christ into the world. Answer the Halleluiah-people truly.
