“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen…” (Mt. 28:5)

Easter, unlike Thanksgiving or Independence Day, is not celebrated on a single day. Instead, the Easter season begins with Lent, a forty-day period of prayer, reflection, and penance that leads to Easter Sunday. It represents the forty days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry.

Even though I did not grow up in a denomination that celebrates Lent, I understand the season much better now as an adult. For most of my life, I did not realize that Mardi Gras was affiliated with the Easter season. I find it fascinating that Fat Tuesday, an event associated with debauchery, is the day that kicks off Lent. Historically, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, was the last day for a large feast before the fasting period of Lent, and it has morphed into the event we know today.

As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded that the culmination of this season is Easter Sunday, when we observe Jesus’s resurrection. As we celebrate this year, remember to thank him for all he has done in order for us to have new life through him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to celebrate how you fulfilled Old Testament prophecy with your life, death, and resurrection. Help me to focus on you throughout this season and each day moving forward. Amen.