Lent is a 40-day segment of the church year marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry by facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon his mission and calling. Christian churches use this period of time for introspection, self-examination, and repentance, a special time to ponder the suffering and death of our Savior. It is also a time of humble joy as we confidently remember that the price is paid, sins are covered, and death is defeated.