BOOK: Lent – The Season of Repentance and Renewal

By Esau McCaulley | Amazon.com | 112 pages
Published in November of 2022

SUMMARY: Important liturgical seasons, especially if you were not brought up in a liturgical church, such as Lent can be intimidating. Where do I start? How do I honor the season? What if I do it wrong? These questions, and many others, can prevent those with the best of intentions from engaging with the season. That is where Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal by Esau McCaulley comes into play. In a short, accessible 112 pages McCaulley demystifies, explains, and examines the traditions, the prayers, the rituals, and the Scriptures of the Lenten season.

“There is no single way to observe Lent given from on high that we must follow to be right with God,” McCaulley pens. “We should not see the season of Lent as a series of rules but as a gift of the collected wisdom of the church universal. It is one of many tools of discipleship pointing us toward a closer walk with Jesus.”

The book provides a helpful overview of the history and traditions of Lent, as well as a deeper understanding of the spiritual practices associated with the season. McCaulley draws on his own experiences and reflections, as well as insights from Scripture and the wisdom of Christian tradition, to offer practical guidance and encouragement for those seeking to observe Lent meaningfully.

What sets this book apart is its emphasis on the connection between Lent and the broader themes of Christian faith and discipleship. McCaulley shows how the disciplines of fasting, prayer, and confession are not simply an ends in themselves, but are meant to deepen our relationship with God and our commitment to following Jesus. He explains the purpose of Ash Wednesday, that fasting can mean abstaining from something or committing to something, and that the liturgy of the 40-day season can provide comfort and community. Ultimately, Lent is a recommitment and reminder of our dependence on God.

“Established prayers and actions pass on the faith, not as magic activities that contain meaning in themselves, but as occasions for remembering,” McCaulley says. “Ritual is both a means of spiritual formation (we learn through repetition) and an encounter (God meets us in the act of worship and praise in the liturgy).”

Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of Lent. It is a well-written, engaging, and informative book that offers practical insights and theological reflections that can be revisited every Lenten season.

KEY QUOTE: “There is no single way to observe Lent given from on high that we must follow to be right with God. The history of Lent is like our spiritual lives. The church stumbled around trying different things in order to discern the best ways to use this time to grow closer to God. We should not see the season of Lent as a series of rules but as a gift of the collected wisdom of the church universal. It is one of many tools of discipleship pointing us toward a closer walk with Jesus.”

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LISTEN: Listen to McCaulley discuss his book on the Norsworthy podcast.

OF NOTE: Lent is part of The Fullness of Time series in which six authors provide an introduction to a season of the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost, and Easter).

DID YOU KNOW? Sunday to Saturday has a Good Reads page where we post all of the books we have read – even the ones that didn’t make the cut.

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