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"For the message
of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God.”
~ 1 Corinthians
1:18
A Brief Look at Lent
What is Lent?
Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. It is the
forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. For centuries, it has
been observed as a special time of self-examination and repentance.
Lent is a time for concentration on fundamental values and
priorities, and is not a time for self-punishment. The focus is upon
the Cross of Christ and His sacrificial death.
Observing Lent
The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things
and taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy
time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent
include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and special treats.
Sacrificing or “fasting” something during Lent is not meant to be
for punishment purposes but the idea is to give up in order to give.
For example, the money saved by sacrificing meat during Lent could
be used to minister to the hungry of our community.
Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays.
This is because Sundays are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection.
During the fast and sacrifice we identify with Christ in His
crucifixion but on Sunday’s we identify with His resurrection and
the celebration of that. Therefore the history of Lent has included
the “breaking of the fast” on the Sundays of Lent to celebrate.
Lent is a special time of reflection and introspection, which leads
us to a place of confession and repentance. While confession to a
priest is not required to receive God’s forgiveness, the power of
the cross brings us to our knees in humility before God repentant of
our sins. Therefore this is a special time to reflect, confess, and
repent.
Special Days and Services
Shrove Tuesday
This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for
the “shriving” or confessing that was traditional on this day before
beginning Lent. This day is also known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat
Tuesday,” because it was a time for eating the things from which one
would abstain during Lent. It has unfortunately turned into a
drunken party instead of a day of confessing or “shriving.”
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme
for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners
condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the
imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, “You are dust
and to dust you shall return.” In the Old Testament, ashes were a
sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning.
Therefore ashes are placed upon the forehead of those who make a
statement of mourning over their sin. As much as Baptism is an
outward expression of an inward act, this can be more than a
tradition or annual ritual. It will only be more if the participant
truly grieves over sin and responds in a manner of repentance.
Palm Sunday
This Sunday before Easter is the last Sunday in Lent. The day
commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a blessing
of palms and a procession in which the whole congregation carries
palms. The day is also marked by reading the story of Jesus’ passion
(the word used to describe Jesus’ death comes from suffering which
is one old meaning of passion).
Maundy Thursday/Good Friday
(Communion - Stations of the Cross)
Maundy Thursday, the Thursday prior to Good Friday and Easter,
commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. It is a time of
looking at the reality of the cross that was coming through the
sharing together in communion. The Stations of the Cross are
depictions of 14 incidents in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death
from Pilate’s house to being placed in the tomb. They are used for
the service called the Way of the Cross, which visits each station
in turn with a brief reading, response, or meditation. This is often
done on Good Friday and is a good opportunity to reflect on Christ’s
journey to the cross. Others have used the 7 statements of Christ on
the cross in Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services.
The Easter Vigil
This service is appropriate from after sunset on Holy Saturday until
sunrise Easter morning. This was the traditional time of baptism in
the early centuries of Christianity. We, at Rio Vista Church, will
be celebrating Easter this year with a special baptismal service.
Baptism and Easter go hand in hand in that baptism signifies the
joining together in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord
Jesus. This service ends the season of Lent and begins the joy of
the Easter season; a season of new life in Christ.
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