5 Books About Lent That Will Help You Prepare For Easter
(REVIEW) Christians around the world are anxiously preparing for the season of Lent. The annual religious observance commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before he embarked on his public ministry.
Lent is observed in many Christian denominations, including by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans and those in the Eastern Orthodox traditions.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday — which this year falls on Feb. 22 on the Gregorian calendar — and lasts about six weeks, culminating with Easter Sunday. It is the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead.
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In time for the start of the Lenten season, here are five books about this prayerful time that can help you prepare for Easter.
5. ‘40 Days of Decrease’
A major part of Lent, in addition to praying, is fasting. In this book (Thomas Nelson Publishers) by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole, you will learn to increase your relationship with Christ by, as the author puts it, “to abandon the world’s illusions, embrace His kingdom’s realities, and journey cross-ward and beyond.”
The book features daily entries including fasts, readings and quotes — each one a guide to offering up a better understanding of Jesus’ life and journey. There is even space for your own note taking and reflection during this solemn time.
4. ‘Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal’
This book (InterVarsity Press) about Lent focuses on exactly what the title suggests — both repentance and renewal. Written by Dr. Esau McCaulley, a theologian and associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, the book details why Christians have to undergo this process ahead of Holy Week.
This book, the first in a series, is more than a devotional. As McCaulley puts it, the book is a “theological and spiritual reflection” to help readers navigate the Lenten season. McCaulley does a masterful job and offers a mix of research and personal history to bring the meaning of Lent to life.
3. ‘Restore: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation’
Published last year, this book (Ave Maria Press) written by Miriam James Heidland, a Catholic nun, is meant to help “you turn away from what wounds you and toward God who heals you and makes you whole” in the form of a journal.
Dedicated to prayer and meditation, the book is beautifully illustrated and features art by noted illustrator Valerie Delgado. In addition to prayer and fasting, the book also focuses on almsgiving and sacrifice and how to incorporate them during Lent.
2. ‘Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws’
Written by pastor and author Adam Hamilton, this book (Abingdon Press) explores the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Luke. It’s in this gospel that we learn about Jesus’ ministry and how that connects to our daily lives.
Luke’s gospel along with his Acts of the Apostles make up almost a quarter of the New Testament. They provide the framework for what became the Christian faith, which makes this guide a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the liturgical calendar. In addition to the book, there’s a feature that includes a free downloadable resource for children. There’s something here for the whole family during Lent.
1. ‘Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion Through 10 Objects’
In this magnificent tome (Westminster John Knox Press), author Jill Duffield makes the case that God “works through the ordinary.” She has a point. As a result, she takes these ordinary objects — like bread, shoes and coins — to outline the meaning of Lent and the Easter story.
The book is divided into weeks and features a Bible verse at the start of its eight chapters. It is neatly organized and a concise way to learn about Jesus and why this time of year is so very important spiritually.
The season of Lent is a pilgrimage. And although it’s not a physical one, these books will help believers embark on a the 40-day spiritual journey that marks one of the most important times on the Christian calendar.
Clemente Lisi is a senior editor at Religion Unplugged and teaches journalism at The King’s College in New York City. He is the author of “The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event.” Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.