Rectors Reflections February 2005

The word Lent , and even the Church Season of Lent, is not in the Scriptures. Rather, the word Lent comes from the English word lengthen , which refers to the lengthening of days (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) during the weeks prior to the great Feast of the Resurrection ( Easter ).

Nonetheless, Easter is coming (March 27), and, in the Episcopal Church, we have Lent, traditionally a 40 day season of preparation that begins with Ash Wednesday (February 9, this year). Actually, even before Ash Wednesday, there is the mid-winter, pre-Lenten celebration of Shrove Tuesday (often with pancakes) or Mardi Gras (which means Fat Tuesday, in French), a sort of last minute fling of self-indulgence, before buckling down into the traditional, serious self-denial of Lent. Of course, the self-denial may not have been spiritual in its origin, at all. It may have begun because of the natural rationing of supplies at the end of a long winter in an agrarian society. (The Church leaders may have thought that if sacrifice were already necessary, they might as well give it a spiritual significance.) Of course, there is nothing wrong with sacrifice – it has a remarkable way of opening us up to spiritual realities. Ultimately, however, all spiritual practices lack meaning, unless through them, we are brought into greater communion with a loving God and into greater service for all humankind.

Regardless of its origins, the 40 days of Lent is a traditional, liturgical season in the Church. The sanctuary is stripped bare. The lectionary readings include Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. The vestments are purple. There are no flowers on the altar, and we traditionally do not schedule celebration events like weddings or baptisms. So, how might we as Christians of St. John’s, use this time of Lent to bring us into greater communion with God and into greater service for all of God’s children? Here are some possible ideas.

1. Try a new spiritual practice , such as praying morning or evening prayer or reading scripture or practicing silent meditation or attending 7:00 am Wednesday morning Eucharist.
2. Try a new ministry such as visiting a person in need, or volunteering to be trained for a part in the Liturgy or answering the phone in the office or serving on a special project.
3. Form a covenant discipleship group with a few others and meet together regularly to share your Christian walk and pray together.
4. Form a Bible Study with a few others to study the scriptures.
5. Read a book on the Christian life or about a spiritual discipline.
6. Fast . Intentionally abstain from a food or a meal one time or more a week.
7. Attend the Family Potluck and Lenten Education Series on Sunday evenings (Feb. 13, 20, 27, March 4, and 13) in Lent at 5:00 pm .
8. Or attend the Lenten Education Series on Wednesday evenings (Feb.16, 23, March 2, 9, and 16) at 7:00 pm .
9. Schedule the Sacrament of Confession with the priest.
10. Take a Retreat Day at a monastery like St. Gregory’s or at a parish in the Diocese.

A lot of possibilities, but no matter which one or ones you chose to undertake, be sure to begin your Lenten journey by attending the Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Eucharist on February 9 at 7:00 am or 7:00 pm (with Distribution of Ashes at 12 noon, but no communion). And always remember, God loves you . “For God so loved the world that God gave the only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16