It is now the Lenten season – the 40 days before Easter that both commemorate the temptation of Jesus in the desert and prepares the Christian for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The season has many themes, but three among them are of particular importance.
現在是四旬期，也就是復活節前40天，是紀念耶穌在沙漠中受試探，並且為基督徒準備迎接耶穌受難日和復活節。 在這個季節裡有許多主題，但其中有三個主題尤為重要。

Trials give way to triumph. Even though he was the Son of God, Jesus went through a period of trial and preparation before he could begin his earthly ministry. Having fasted and prayed for 40 days in the desert (the reason why Lent is accompanied by a fast), he was then confronted by Satan and tempted with three things: food, glory, and identity. He denied them all and soon after began a ministry that changed the whole world. His triumph on the cross and through the grave made victors of us all.
勝利取代了試煉。耶穌雖然是上帝的兒子，但在他地上的傳道工作以先，也經歷過一段時間的考驗和準備，他在沙漠中禁食祈禱 40 天（四旬期伴隨禁食的原因）之後，他面對撒旦的三次試探：食物、榮耀和身份。他勝過所有試探，並在不久之後開始了改變整個世界的事工。 他在十字架上和墳墓中的勝利使我們所有人都得勝。

Mourning gives way to joy. Lent is not only a time of fasting and reflection, it is also a time of seriousness and sobriety. It is a time of mourning for we both remember that Christ died and was buried and that he did so because he paid for our mistakes. But the story did not end there. The cross of Good Friday leads to Easter. Jesus not only died for sin, he gained victory over death. By doing so, he granted us grace, hope, and with all these things, joy.
喜悅取代了悲傷。 四旬期不僅是禁食和反思的時期，也是專注清醒的時期。 這是一個哀悼的時刻，因為我們都記得基督死了並且被埋葬了，他這樣做是因為他為我們的錯誤付出了代價。但故事並沒有就此結束，耶穌受難日的十字架通向復活節，耶穌不僅為罪而死，他還戰勝了死亡，透過他的受難與復活，他給了我們恩典、希望，以及喜樂。

Death gives way to life. Lent is a time of somber reflection and remains so until the dawn of Easter morning. It is then that we celebrate Christ rising from the dead. No long will we remain preoccupied by the death he died, but instead we rejoice in the risen lord. We rejoice that he calls us to participate in new life, that we can be new creations. For Christ died, once for all, to bring us to God.
生命取代死亡。 四旬期是一個沉思的時期，直到復活節黎明，那時我們慶祝基督從死裡復活。我們不會再為他的死而憂愁悲傷，而是為復活的主歡欣喜樂，我們很高興他呼召我們參與新生命，我們可以成為新造的人。因為基督為我們死了，他一次性、永遠地把我們贖回到上帝面前。