In the early Christian churches there was, historically, a time of fasting and prayer before the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. This observance lasted forty hours.
Sometime during the middle ages, this time of fasting and prayer was extended to forty days and became Lent. According to some scholars, it became a time dedicated to remembering the sacrifice of Jesus and his trials and tribulations. Today, most Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and some Protestants observe Lent by giving up something for the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
It has not been my tradition, before coming to Universalist National Memorial Church, to observe Lent. The Baptist churches in which I grew up taught that it was “too Catholic” to observe. I have yet to figure that one out! Being here, participating in our Ash Wednesday service, and reading about Lent, have all led me to a spiritually affirming consideration of Lent.
What I said in my few words of “Invitation to Lenten Observance” in our Ash Wednesday service was that it is a time in our religious lives when we have the opportunity to give up something—not something we are already trying to give up, and not something that is especially dear to us—but something that will allow us, when we give it up, to turn our attention to God. If we give up something we are already trying to give up, then we confuse our human desire for better health or diet, etc., with our desire for a closer relationship with God. If we give up something “too dear,” like ice cream, for example, our attention turns to discomfort and, in our humanity, we become more concerned about our loss of ice cream than our effort to become closer to God.
Someone suggested that they intended to give something to God, rather than give up something during Lent. They were going to devote more time to prayer and meditation, dedicating a special time for God each day. This fits with the Lenten story. Historically Lent called for devoting more time to prayer and meditation. I found the following in the Catholic Encyclopedia on the web:
There are traditionally forty days in Lent
which are marked by fasting, both from
foods and festivities, and by other acts of
penance. The three traditional practices to
be taken up with renewed vigor during
Lent are prayer (justice towards God),
fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving
(justice towards neighbor).
Lent gives us the opportunity to renew and deepen our relationship with God. It offers us a time to reflect on how we are living this life we’ve been given, and whether we are living the way we believe God wants us to live. It is also a time for us to respond to Jesus’ message and ministry.
For some of us, it is difficult to let go of some of the painful religious experiences of our youth and embrace Lent. For others, it will be a reminder of Lenten seasons that used to be significant, and could be again. In addition, there are others, perhaps like me, who have never considered Lent in any way except that others observe the season.
What I am encouraging each of us to do, is look at our relationship with our God, and ask ourselves some thoughtful, provoking questions about that relationship. If Lenten observance—any kind—will strengthen and deepen our relationship with God, then think of Lent as a wonderful opportunity to allow that to begin.
God bless you and yours,
Rev. Lillie