This year the Lenten season begins Wednesday, March 5th. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for spring, which is derived from a verb meaning to lengthen. Lent comes in the spring when the days become noticeably longer.
This annual season of fasting and prayer has been observed by the Western Church since the first century after Jesus, although it has not always been forty days long. In more recent times it has been forty days, after the example of Moses and Elijah, and to commemorate the forty days of fasting and prayer that Jesus spent in the wilderness.
The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday from the custom that prevailed in the early Church of sprinkling ashes on people’s heads on the first day of Lent, in token of repentance for sin.
Ash Wednesday comes forty-six days before Easter. There are six Sundays in Lent, and they are not considered part of Lent, because in the Western Church, Sunday is always a feast day. The forty weekdays beginning with Ash Wednesday constitute Lent.
The fifth Sunday in Lent is known as Passion Sunday, because it marks the beginning of Passion-tide, the last two weeks of Lent. These two weeks specifically commemorate the Passion of Jesus, or his experiences following the Last Supper.
The last week of Lent is called Holy Week. It includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
Source: Charles Fillmore. Keep A True Lent, page 138
Scripture and Interpretations for March
March 2
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who strengthens me.
Name the source of the power that enables us to carry through all our undertakings. The Christ consciousness is the only source of power. “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.”
March 9
Isaiah 41:10-13
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. All who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”
How do we develop courage? By recognizing God as the source of courage and our unfailing support, and by denying fear its hold upon us. We can be fearless because of the spiritual resources upon which we can; I draw instantly in time of need. “I am with thee … I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee.”
Should we consider and weigh the odds against us? No. We should disregard them and keep in touch with the spiritual power available to all who live in harmony with spiritual law. (“They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces.”)
Source: truthunity.net
March 16
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Is our strength a matter altogether of our physical inheritance? No, it has its source in the primal energy that inheres in all things and animates all life. The source of this universal energy is God, the Spirit or life of the universe.
Can we make conscious union with this energy or power, so as to maintain our health and vitality always at a normal level? We can and do through prayer, meditation, and right conduct. “They that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength.” We can even keep our health above the normal standard of the sense consciousness. “They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”
How do we identify ourselves with our spiritual or higher self? By entering into spiritual consciousness, recognizing God as our animating spirit, and living in accordance with His Truth.
Source: truthunity.net
March 23
Ephesians 40:29-31
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness
What is the whole armor of God that we are to put on in order to withstand the “evil day”? The whole armor of God is the realization that the omnipresent Spirit of good is our resource and that we have nothing to fear when we trust in and are guided by Spirit, that is, God.
What is “the breastplate of righteousness”? “The breastplate of righteousness” represents a union of love and wisdom. When our judgment is tempered with love, we vanquish the adversary and cast out all fear.
Source: truthunity.net
March 30
Habukkuk 3:19
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer and makes me tread upon the heights.
How firm should be our faith in God? It should be the impregnable fortress of our being. Though all else should fail and we be left even without food or shelter, we should hold fast to our faith in God without doubting or wavering and rejoice in this one bond between us and Omnipotence.
Source: truthunity.net