Lentu Kalam means Spring. It means Spring Season in English. The 40 days in this spring between winter and summer are called the Lentu period. These days 40 days are observed by Christians all over the world as special days, why is this? Is it necessary? What does the scriptures say about this?
*Which Lentu Period?*
Lent is a total of 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. 6 of which are Sundays. The Church did not include those 6 days as fasting days as there is no need to repent and fast because Sunday is the day of joy when the Lord rose from the dead. The remaining 40 days are fasting days.
Ash Wednesday alternates between February 4 and March 10 every year. Similarly, Easter Sunday falls on any day between March 22 and April 25 every year.
The reason why it alternates is that it was during the Passover that the Lord Jesus suffered, died, and rose again on the morning of the first day of the next week (that is, the day after Saturday, the day of Israel's rest). So we celebrate Easter on Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead.
It was a full moon day on the day the Israelites left slavery in Egypt, had the Passover, and left. All of the Israelite festivals were centered around the moon. Because the Israelites followed the Lunar year.
AD The Easter Sunday prediction was announced by a resolution of the Nicene Council in 325. That is, Easter Sunday was declared as the Sunday following the full moon after March 21st, when day and night are equal. As the full moon alternates, Easter Sunday is also a variable date festival. This year - 2024 - the full moon after March 21 falls on March 24, so the following Sunday is Easter on the 31st (31/03/2024). Thus the Easter Passover is calculated by keeping the full moon. The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday. Ash Wednesday is the Wednesday 40 days before Palm Sunday (24/03/2024). This year 14/02/2024 is Ash Wednesday.
*Why Lentu period?*
This Lenten fast was instituted in the Church with the lofty purpose of consecrating ourselves to our Lord, who sacrificed himself for us. On Ash Wednesday it is customary in some Catholic congregations to make the sign of the cross on the forehead with ashes. Gray represents our dejection and mourning. (Esther 4:1-3) (Jeremiah 6:26) (Daniel:9:3) We can observe fasting and praying with ashes.
During these days we must plead with the Lord for forgiveness for our fleshly vices and dedicate ourselves to changing them. It is a great blessing to use these days to grow in God's relationship by giving up unwanted habits that are not pleasing to God in our lives. We have to take some special decisions and establish our lives in holy and good morals that are pleasing to the Lord.
*Is there any command about this in the scriptures?*
No. There is no command in Scripture to fast and pray for the 40 days before Easter.
In the scriptures, Moses fasted for 40 days in order to receive God's commandments. Elijah walked for 40 days on the strength of food given by the Lord in the days of his fatigue and went to the mountain of God called Oreb and met God. After 40 days of fasting and prayer, our Lord Jesus overcame temptations and fulfilled his ministry.
Based on this, if a person makes up his own mind and observes 40 days of fasting, it is beneficial.
The scriptures say, he who sets days apart is set apart for God, and whoever does not set days apart is not set apart for God. He who eats gives thanks to God, and eats to the Lord; Even the one who does not eat gives thanks to God by eating and eating from the Lord (Romans: 14:6).
Therefore the observance of Lentu days is the basis of his own consecration.
*pointless Lentukaam*
In many cases, fasting is observed for a specific period like this. During those times they leave their bad habits and keep themselves clean. But at the end of that time, they bring out the carnal desires that they have suppressed and solve them altogether. If we do the same, there is no benefit.
An alcoholic brother I know does not drink during Lent and does not eat meat. But on Easter he drinks everything together. From then till the next Ash Wednesday it is the same drink. It is pure devotion. Thus E
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