ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 21, 2023
The Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes as the darkness turns to light on Easter morning. A lot of folks associate the practice of giving something up with the Season of Lent. That is accurate, but it is important to know that Lent is Forty Days in length, and the number 40 is very important within scripture. It represents preparation, the making ready of oneself for something important.
As Christianity began to take on institutional structure shortly after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, the earliest practice of Lent was mostly associated with new converts—a period of 40 days of fasting. What fasting meant in those earliest years was somewhat dependent on the region in which you lived and the Bishop who oversaw your church. Most of the time, the fasting consisted of one meal each day after 3 p.m., but even the meal had restrictions. Of course, as the church moved forward, there were changes to the definition of fasting, and the idea of “giving something up” became one expression of fasting. I will fast or give up TV for forty days; maybe it will be alcohol or sweets.
This past Sunday at the Church Board Meeting, one of the young adults, Angela Whyde, talked about how she does not give up, but adds something to her Lenten Season. I could immediately tell that her idea intrigued a number of folks in the meeting. Maybe you want to add more prayer, exercise, or silence to this Season of Lent. However you choose to think of this important Season in the life of the church, I hope you will bring to it a renewed sense of reverence and openness to what God is seeking to do within you and with you.
Gentle and Gracious God, there are things within me that could use a little work—some mending, rethinking, renewed focus, and maybe even some pretty significant change. Whatever the case, use some of the simple practices of this Season to better prepare me to experience Easter and to live the Easter life. Amen.
