The confusion is especially prevalent this time of year as Holy Lent approaches. Orthodoxy excluded, it is common knowledge that you give something up for what the Western world knows as Lent, and the list of what to give up is wide open and at times is entertaining to hear. You’ll hear things like people giving up soda, Facebook, chocolate, fast food, TV shows, and the list goes on. The funny and also sad part is that Lent for most people has lost all spiritual meaning and become almost a renewing of your New Year’s Resolutions. I’m sure if we went back to January 1st, the same people giving up soda and Facebook most likely said that morning “I need to drink less Coke” or “This year I’m going to only log on Facebook once a day.”

Now, for us Orthodox, Lent comes with a little more structure. We have strict fasting guidelines. For 40 days we take on what is essentially a vegan diet. We don’t have a choice and there is no bargaining. I can’t go to the Priest and say, “Father, I’ll give up the dairy, but can I keep meat and replace it with bread? You know I’ve read carbs are really bad for you.” It doesn’t work that way; Orthodoxy in general doesn’t work that way. We have our traditions and we stick to them. Some may say that it’s a hindrance, but it is actually what makes us so special. The words we pray, the beliefs we hold, the services we celebrate are the exact same ones every Orthodox Christian before us prayed, believed, and celebrated dating back to Pentecost when the Church was established. The problem is many Orthodox Christians don’t see it from that perspective, and similar to our Catholic friends, we have lost the true meaning of Lent. It is not a second chance at a New Year’s resolution, nor is it an extreme set of dietary rules. What we as Orthodox must realize is that the spirit of Lent is not one of rules, but a time of repentance. The Greek root of the word repentance literally means a “changing of mind.” Lent is a time to have that change of mind, to transform from who we are to who God desires us to be. It is a time where we grow closer to God, and it is through tools, not rules, of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving that this takes place. God doesn’t want us to suffer. The Bible says that Jesus wept when looking upon Lazarus’s tomb. On the contrary, God wants us to live our lives to the fullest extent, and that can only be done when we are in communion with Him. By partaking in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving we are able to gain control of ourselves.

The Church Fathers believed that at the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, we became overtaken by our passions, and instead of controlling our passions, they now controlled us. To give an example of what this means, think about the 7 deadly sins. If you look at what they refer to, they are not bad actions per se. Take gluttony for example; is it bad to eat? No, but it is sin to overeat. At the point we reach gluttony, we are no longer controlling our hunger, but instead our hunger is controlling us. This is what the Church Fathers meant. We cannot allow our actions to take control of us. Because when this happens, that is when our relationship with God suffers. If we are not in control, but rather being controlled, then how are we to draw close to God? This is where those “rules” come into play.  Through the actions of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, we are enabling ourselves to change.  We are depriving ourselves through fasting and giving of ourselves through almsgiving, with both actions being both aided and enhanced by prayer. 

I cannot state how important prayer is; without it, we are missing the point.  The ultimate outcome of Lent is to have strengthened our bond with God, and just like any relationship, communication is key.  Prayer is our communication.  It is our chance to speak to God and for Him to speak to us.  A common misconception about prayer is that we have to do all the talking.  I remember learning in my business communication class that communication only takes place once feedback is received.  If we don’t shut our mouths and listen, then how can God communicate with us? And if we are not allowing Him to speak, how can we expect to grow closer to Him?

I may be oversimplifying this topic, but I’m not writing this to serve as a drawn out explanation of the meaning of Lent, but more to refocus us all on the purpose of Lent. It should not be looked upon as 40 days of deprivation, or a time when we only get to eat bad food, but instead as a time for spiritual awakening, a time when we draw closer to God. He has already done His part, as we will be reminded at the end of this journey when we celebrate Holy Week and specifically our Lord’s death and resurrection. I pray that all of you experience this beautiful time of year in Faith, Hope, and Love.