Lent is a season of the Church’s year in which all believers are called to prepare for the great celebration of the Easter Triduum, that is the great liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, in which we remember the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus, and his resurrection in glory.
Lent is not tidy. Day’s grow longer (the word ‘Lent’ comes from ‘lengthen’), the ground thaws, and the next thing we know, everything is filthy. Our windows need washing, our temples need cleansing, the earth itself needs a good bath. The English names for these months come from the ancient words that reflect the need to roll up our sleeves this season : February (‘purification’) and March (‘the spirit of war’). Good names. Winter doesn’t leave without blustery battles that push things over and mess things up and break things.
We begin Lent by smearing ashes on our foreheads, an ancient symbol of repentance, but it would be a mistake to label lent purely as a penitential season. Lent is also about renewal. During this season we are called to take stock of our lives, to appreciate our worth and dignity, and to challenge those areas of our lives that aren’t free.
Lent is to be a graced time. It is much more about our turning again to Christ than the things we choose to 'give up'. Lent is a time to name the things we really hunger for - love, understanding, compassion, friendship, known-ness and to come to the stark reality that these hungers will be satisfied in God if we give God permission to work in our lives. Lent is more a process of letting go than giving up.
The work of Christ on Calvary and his resurrection are the real, tangible signs of the relationship that God desires for us, a relationship founded on, and nourished by love. If this is the attitude of our Lenten celebration, then this can be a graced time for us all.
"Turn away from sin and believe in the Good News"
2 comments:
A great post Fr Damian. Clarified quite a few things about Lent that I didn't know. Well done & keep up the good work!
Thank you for your inspirational post. A friend of yours (on sabatical in the DC) sent it to me after I led meditation in our Tuesday night class at Seekers Church in DC.
Your thoughts coincide with what I've been trying to do this lenten season. Instead of "giving up" something, I am working on becoming more aware of what is happening in the war in Iraq. Every day, I read a story about a real person in Iraq be it an Iraqi child or adult or an American soldier...and I pray for them. Some stories are tearful reminders of the horrors of war and others are inspirational stories. By concentrating on one person I feel more connected.
I look forward to reading more blogs from you across the miles.
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