What is Lent?
- From Old English word “lengthen” which means “Spring”
- By 2nd century the word was used to describe a period of individual fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter
- In the first 3 centuries, only catechumens (those being trained and instructed in the faith) observed this period, which lasted usually 2-3 days.
- Lenten preparation evolved to a 40 day observance, recognized as such by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. (The Council of Nicea also fixed the date of Easter as a movable feast. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Spring Equinox which occurs on or after March 21. Thus Easter in the West can occur between March 22 and April 25.)
- The evolution of Lent into a 40 day observance has deep Scriptural roots. (Moses @ Sinai; Noah on the ark; Elijah @Mt. Horeb/Sinai; Jesus in the wilderness)
- Counting/Determining the 40 days: In the Latin church (the West), six weeks comprised the Lenten period, but Sundays were excluded, leaving only 36 days. In the 7th century Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) added the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before the first Sunday in Lent to comprise the 40 days. Thus, Lent always begins on (Ash) Wednesday.
- Initially, people fasted all 40 days of Lent, partaking of only 1 meal per day. But the Church taught (and still teaches) that fasting is not about what we eat, but about changed hearts, interior conversion, reconciliation with God and others. Fasting is about living simply and giving from our abundance to others, especially the poor.
I. Why Ashes/Ash Wednesday?
- Scripture: In Sacred Scripture, ashes are an outward sign of our mortality, of grief, humility, mourning, and repentance. (Job 42:6; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Esther). Memento mori. Remember you are dust.
- Church practice: Ashes were first imposed on catechumens at the beginning of their preparation for baptism. Later, baptized Christians began asking for the imposition of ashes as a way of yearly re-entering the faith and living out their baptisms.
- In 1091, Pope Urban II initiated the universal practice of imposing ashes on the Wednesday that begins Lent, thus “Ash Wednesday.”
Suggestions for Our Observance
The season of Lent asks us to hold two apparently contradictory notions in creative tension: penitence and joy. This is expressed fully in our Eucharistic prayer during the Lenten season. After the Sursum Corda, the Proper Preface says:
You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal Feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which You have prepared for those who love You.
Penitence:
Humble acknowledgment that we are not our own, that we are not in charge, that we have “gone astray” like lost sheep through willful choice and through benign neglect. We are our own worst enemy. The world is broken, and we helped to break it. We are broken, and we cannot fix ourselves. We are mortal, though we try to deny it.
Joy:
Joy is the result of knowing and experiencing that God wants to “lengthen” us spiritually, that God wants to grow us up and mature us, that God wants to renew us in His very image, to make us more like Christ. What follower of Christ does not truly want this?
(What significant event in life does not require preparation?)
The proper context for our Lenten observance:
Opening our hearts/lives to God so that we may receive His gifts more fully.
- During this Lent, seek and extend forgiveness. Repair a relationship.
- Pay close attention to your use of social media and your potential witness to others. Place every post under the scrutiny of the New Testament and the Spirit of Christ. Consider the impact of your posts on unbelievers as well as fellow Christians. (Charitable criticism of ideas vs contempt for persons)
- Practice gratitude daily. Seek to express thankfulness or appreciation to at least one person each day.
- Practice giving alms. The alms box will be out again this year in the narthex, and we will add last year’s amount to this year’s total and give it to City Light.
- Consider some form of fasting. Offer it to God as a means for Him to teach and transform you.
- Prayerfully consider the opportunities for prayer afforded to you during the season through Epworth’s Tuesday and Thursday Evening Prayers.
- Keep a journal. Record your thoughts and feelings as you journey through the season.
