Wednesday, February 8, 2012

It's Not Too Early


Lent is fast approaching and it's not too early to think about our Lenten practices. The historical purpose of Lent is to set aside a time for preparing oneself for the drama of Holy Week, culminating in Easter Sunday.  The traditional means of preparation are prayer, confession, repentance (or penance) charity, and self-denial (often in the form of fasting). Given the last of these two, it’s easy to see where the custom of “giving up” something for Lent originated.
Historically, Lenten observances have been obligations on the believer, but in modern times, the concept of obligation or duty has, at least among Protestants who observe Lent, been replaced with a call for a voluntary observation. The sea change began in the European Reformation. One of the lead reformers, Ulrich Zwingli, along with some of his followers, publicly ate sausages (meat was forbidden) to repudiate the observance of Lent. The English Puritan movement viewed Lent as a “romish” practice with no warrant in Scripture and therefore, rejected observing it. This rejection still appears among many evangelical/conservative Churches today.
So here’s a question for us moderns: is there still value in preparing spiritually for Holy Week and Easter?    Some will answer “no,” Lenten piety not being what it once was among Christians. They will take notice of Lent because the colors are purple and the mood is somber, but it will call for nothing special in their weekday living.  Others will answer “yes” and will engage in what has become the “standard” practice of “giving up something” during Lent.  But will this modest denial really aid in preparing for Holy Week and Easter?  I’m not sure.  I know it hasn’t especially aided me.
If this Lent were to be a “holy Lent” as called for in our Ash Wednesday liturgy, what would it be like?  Here are a few thoughts. 
  • Our Prayer Book allows for a face to face confession to a member of the clergy, even another lay person. [See page 44f6f] Would adopting this practice this Lent cause us to engage in real self examination and a more profound repentance?  Might that lead to living differently?
  • Perhaps our giving up something could be something that has a monetary value and we gave that money to charity.  If we gave up desserts and placed a dollar value on the cost of dessert at home and when we’re out, then maybe giving up sweets, as many do, would have a different meaning. 
  • I suspect for many of us, praying is not as consistent a practice as it might be.  Maybe we’re still stuck in the few mumbled words before we drop off to sleep model we learned as children.  Could we benefit from setting aside even five minutes each day when we’re fully awake to reflect on Jesus’ gift and offer up our thanks? Or maybe we could just sit and listen to see what God might be saying to us.
  • Some people "take on" something during the season rather than giving up something. Changing you Prayer habits would be an example of that, but other things come to mind as well.  Perhaps serving others in a soup kitchen, volunteering a skill for those who need it, polishing the pews in the nave--a little creative thinking or prayerful reflection could suggest many more.
The manner in which we each observe Lent is a private matter.  But for the sake of our spiritual lives, I do believe some really meaningful observation is very important.  I hope you consider the nature of your observation this year, even if you end up doing what you’ve always done.  
By the way, “Lent” is the Anglo-Saxon word replacing the Latin word “quadragesima” meaning forty days.  Lent meant “spring” or “long,” since the days lengthened during the spring.  Until at least the 4th century, there was no set length to Lent.  Some observances were only one, two or three hours long while some were forty hours long.  In the close of the 4th century a translation by Rufinus of a Greek work by the historian Eusebius into Latin was the first mention of forty days, primarily by the way he chose to punctuate a sentence. This seems to have become the standard based on the examples of Moses, Elias and Jesus, all of whom had 40 day periods of something.  In Jesus’ case, 40 days in the wilderness, and by some accounts, 40 hours in the tomb. In Hebrew practice the number 40 was typically used to mean “a long time.”  Finally, did you know that whatever your Lenten discipline is, you are dispensed from following it on Sundays?  Sundays are always days of celebration of the resurrection. However, most keep their vows that day anyway.
May you have a holy Lent
Jerry

1 comment:

  1. I sure didn't know that part about Sundays!! I will say that last year, more than ever, I really kept my mind in a certain "Lenten" state...which for me, was daily meditation, more overall quiet, and giving up things. I'm thinking this year to definitely add meditation and unselfish acts, but also add some things I always mean to do...that are more spirit-based. I do feel if it does not have some meaning to you, don't do it...God isn't impressed by resumes so much as by a genuine heart, at least that's what I hope. I do find that Lent lets me see the human side of Jesus as nothing else can.

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