All over the world, spiritual hunger is growing, especially in the have nots who are finding it challenging to make ends meet. As compared to other communities, the Christian has just two festivals to celebrate or contend with according to the depth of the pocket viz, Christmas and Easter. The prosperous celebrate and the lean and hungry dread the embarrassment of being unable to keep up with the Joneses, and fit out everyone in the family with new clothes and shoes, and stack up gifts under the ubiquitous Christmas tree.
Christmas was done with in December 2024. That has left Easter to make its entry in 2025. Easter is, obviously a misnomer stemming from Ishthar, the Roman goddess of fertility, Rulers, all too often bow to the wishes of the common man, instead of being sticklers for the truth. That is how Easter got transposed onto the resurrection. Christians greet each other happily saying, ‘Happy Easter’ and have reservations about saying, ‘Happy Resurrection Day’ which they should be saying because Emperor Constantine told them they could continue with tradition even though they believed in the Risen Christ.
Now, we are supposed to be talking about Lent. Even though Christians would appear to have just two festivals, each is actually an entire season. Lent is the time which precedes Easter and is a preparation for it. John the Baptist was baptizing individuals in the Jordan River and telling them to repent and turn from their wicked and sinful ways because the Kingdom of God was at hand. Then came Jesus in all humility, to take the water baptism along with everyone else. John the Baptist had leaped in his mother, Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, with Jesus in her womb had met. Knowing that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, John demurred at doing so because water baptism was a ritual cleansing, which was superfluous for Jesus.
Coming back to lent. It is a forty day period of fasting, reflection and preparation which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, before Good Friday, the day of the Crucifixion. The purpose of lent is firstly to prepare for Easter by reflecting on the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also, to repent and seek forgiveness for sins. Moreover, one is to practice self-denial, humility and spiritual growth through fasting, prayer and acts of charity, Common practices during lent include abstaining from meat on certain days, increased prayer and devotion, giving up certain luxuries or habits, engaging in acts of charity or service to others. By observing lent, Christians aim to deepen their faith, renew their commitment to God and prepare themselves for the joy and celebration of Easter.
Cherry Burke Ojha has served as Principal of premier schools. She has published several e-Books on Creative Writing. In 2015 she was named one of twenty Women Achievers of Bangalore and beyond.
