Lent
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
This season of Lent, which we begin today, developed gradually in the church. From what historians can tell, one of the earliest pre-Easter traditions was fasting for the forty hours between Good Friday and Easter morning. People understood that Christ was in the tomb for forty hours, so a period of fasting and remembering the sacrifice Christ made for us became part of the observance. Over time, the fasting was extended from forty hours to all of Holy Week (only one small evening meal per day would be eaten). Then, as time went farther on, the practice of observing a period well beyond Holy Week developed, and by about the year 400, the church decided on a season of Lent lasting forty days. The way of totaling the days was unusual -- Sundays were not counted, since each Sunday was considered a mini-Easter celebration. Lent would begin on Ash Wednesday and end on Holy Saturday.
Why the ashes? That is an ancient custom signifying grief and mourning. In the early church, Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the bishop blessed the uncomfortable hair shirts that they were to wear during the forty days, and sprinkled them with ashes. Then, while the faithful recited psalms, the penitents were turned out of the holy place because of their sins, just as Adam and Eve had been turned out of the Garden of Eden because of their disobedience. They did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after performing some act (or acts) of penance and receiving absolution. As years went on, and as the truth of the scripture sank in that says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), all began to come to receive ashes.
To understand the season of Lent as a time of introspection and spiritual discipline, we look back to the way new converts were initiated into the early church. Lent became the special time during which new Christians prepared for baptism -- instruction, sacrifice, austerity. As Easter Sunday approached, an all-night vigil would be held, and just before the sun rose on Easter morning, all those who so desired and had properly prepared were baptized in a splendid service. It did not take long for all Christians to set this time apart to recommit themselves to the faith.
We arrive at this time of recommitment once again. What will Lent mean for you this year? Consider a suggestion that may sound blasphemous in the context of Jesus' warning about public piety: "Beware of practicing your piety before others ..." This year consider being very public with your piety. Jesus wanted to guard against hypocrisy. But, the hypocrisy of our day in the mainline church is not people parading their piety to the public -- it is exactly the opposite. The piety is there, but it is kept carefully private -- too private. It has been noted that Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction. The faith must be shared. This Lent, take something on rather than giving something up. Be public in your piety -- not for recognition, but simply to declare your faith and let the world know whose side you are on. And I can promise, God will bless you for it.
Why the ashes? That is an ancient custom signifying grief and mourning. In the early church, Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the bishop blessed the uncomfortable hair shirts that they were to wear during the forty days, and sprinkled them with ashes. Then, while the faithful recited psalms, the penitents were turned out of the holy place because of their sins, just as Adam and Eve had been turned out of the Garden of Eden because of their disobedience. They did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after performing some act (or acts) of penance and receiving absolution. As years went on, and as the truth of the scripture sank in that says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), all began to come to receive ashes.
To understand the season of Lent as a time of introspection and spiritual discipline, we look back to the way new converts were initiated into the early church. Lent became the special time during which new Christians prepared for baptism -- instruction, sacrifice, austerity. As Easter Sunday approached, an all-night vigil would be held, and just before the sun rose on Easter morning, all those who so desired and had properly prepared were baptized in a splendid service. It did not take long for all Christians to set this time apart to recommit themselves to the faith.
We arrive at this time of recommitment once again. What will Lent mean for you this year? Consider a suggestion that may sound blasphemous in the context of Jesus' warning about public piety: "Beware of practicing your piety before others ..." This year consider being very public with your piety. Jesus wanted to guard against hypocrisy. But, the hypocrisy of our day in the mainline church is not people parading their piety to the public -- it is exactly the opposite. The piety is there, but it is kept carefully private -- too private. It has been noted that Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction. The faith must be shared. This Lent, take something on rather than giving something up. Be public in your piety -- not for recognition, but simply to declare your faith and let the world know whose side you are on. And I can promise, God will bless you for it.
