Growing up Catholic, the Lenten season was a very important time of the year in which Christians — typically those of the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions — would observe and prepare for the mournfulness of the death of Christ and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.

For me as an unsophisticated youth, Lent meant giving up meat on Fridays  (no biggie) and getting a basket-ful of candy and toys on Easter morning. 

The significance of Lent has a much larger essence to me as an adult.

The 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday is full of meaning and purpose as it parallels several crucial stories in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, God punished mankind by sending a flood over the earth for 40 days and nights. The people of Nineveh repented of their sins with 40 days of fasting. The Prophet Ezekiel lay on his right side for 40 days as a precursor to the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. The Prophet Elijah fasted and prayed for 40 days on Mount Horeb. Moses fasted 40 days and nights while on Mount Sinai. Moses and the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 penitential years until they entered the Promised Land.

And of course, in the New Testament, Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness (where He was tempted by Satan -- Jesus triumphs) in preparation for the beginning of His public ministry. In the wilderness, Jesus prayed and fasted and that is the example we most assuredly should follow, especially in the times we are living today.

Each time our stomach growls during our fasting, it symbolizes how Satan urged Jesus to quench His own desires by turning a stones into bread. Every time we ignore the call to hit our knees in the morning it’s as if the devil is laughing as he lays claim to all the kingdoms of the world.

Every time we pay heed to the mortal world (Satan’s playground), we lose sight of the immortal  and eternal world waiting for us in heaven. The Word of God is shown as a sword, the weapon that slashes through the enemy’s lies. 

As Jesus said to the imp, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Lent is more than ashes on the forehead and Easter Bunny visits. It is us followers participating in abstinence, fasting, confession and acts of mercy that help strengthen our faith and devotional disciplines. Fasting breaks superfluous attachments to material blessings and (ironically) stimulates our spiritual appetite. Humble service breaks the stranglehold of pride.

In the Book of Esther, her cousin, Mordecai (a member of the Jewish community), rebukes her as she swells with pride in her power and favor among the people — her selfishness over service.

“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?’” (Esther 4:13-14)

And that’s the “for such a time as this” God also sets before you and me.

Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Let’s rise to the challenge just as Jesus rose for us.