Lent

This was written by my friend Eric Heron, a professional musician who works with churches to help restore a sense of worship. You can go to unkeptrecords.com to learn more about Eric, Natalie (his lovely wife) and their music. (Dave)

CARNIVAL vs. LENT
Today is February 5th, Mardi Gras – (Latin for “Fat Tuesday”).

Mardi Gras has become for many an active reflection on our human tendencies to over-imbibe in drink, over-indulge in food, and allow our other senses to wander far from the things of God. It is a “carnival” in every sense of the word. ("carne" = flesh).

A flight to New Orleans for Mardi Gras might not be worth the decadent experience of it all. Nevertheless, what occurs on Fat Tuesday serves as a powerful set up for the season that immediately follows it. I am speaking of the season of Lent. (click here to view a larger version of the painting to the right, entitled: The Fight Between Carnival and Lent by Pieter Bruegel the Younger, 1559)

Lent officially begins on the Wednesday that is forty days (minus Sundays) before Resurrection Sunday. Called Ash Wednesday, it is a holy day which evolved relatively late in church history (around the 11th century). On this day, worshipers attend a service in which ashes are imposed on their foreheads in the sign of the cross. Though the exact content of the worship service may vary between Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Mainline churches, these services always contain prayers that acknowledge sin and emphasize repentance. Imagine the increased relevance this holds for the one who has over-indulged just one day before!

Lent is thought to have originated as early as the second century as the final period of preparation for those catecumens (new disciples) who were ready to be baptized at Easter Vigil. In 325 CE, the council of Nicea first referred to Lent as “forty days” and officially fixed this fasting period to immediately precede Easter. Close to 350 CE, Cyril (the leader of the church at Jerusalem) referred to Lent as “a long period of grace, forty days for repentance”. By the 5th century, all Christians – not just those preparing for baptism – viewed Lent as an important part of their personal and corporate worship experience.

The question for us today is: Do we need the season of Lent?

Many Protestants tend to shun such “Catholic” holy days as too programmed or perhaps too somber. I would argue, however, that all believers need Lent. I have heard it said that Protestants tend to “rush to the Resurrection” and avoid deeper reflection on what historically came before. I think this rushing is not helpful and ultimately it is destructive. I know that I personally need to intentionally reflect on my own sin in this world of security and comfort that allows me to so easily ignore the evil that lurks just below the surface. It seems fitting for us to pause and acknowledge our sin, which is what has made the Resurrection necessary in the first place.

Thankfully, media like The Passion of the Christ and various ecumenical movements have helped less “Catholic” Christians see the value in stopping to reflect on all that precedes that happy day when the stone was rolled away.

If we agree that the Lenten season is helpful and maybe even necessary toward forming us as good disciples of Jesus, a second question arises: What, then, will we do about it?

I am choosing to fast for the next forty days. I will kick it off my fast by attending the local Episcopal church's Ash Wednesday service. Each time I deny myself, I will be reminded of the “way of discipleship” (Mark 8:34). Whenever I am tempted to break the fast prematurely, I will go to prayer and thanking God for the many ways his grace has touched me and my family. I suspect that though this will not be easy, it will be a rich way to prepare for the beautiful feasting (just add an “e” to fasting) day when friends and family gather in joy and celebration.

How will YOU prepare for Easter this year?

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Some of the historical information above was taken from: James F. White, Introduction to Christian Worship, third edition (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000), 56 & 69.