Most of us know that today marks the church’s entrance into the season of Lent. It all begins each year with Ash Wednesday.

It’s a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) centered in the examination of our lives through lament, repentance, and fasting. Perhaps many of our churches don’t regularly engage in these biblical practice. But we know Christ himself did. In all, Lent culminates with the weekend of Good Friday, Silent Saturday, and then Resurrection Sunday (April 2-4 this year).

But many people may ask why participate in Lent? It seems so stuffy and religious, so outdated.