Celebrating the Lenten Season

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry” – Luke 4:1-2.

This year Shrove Tuesday - which is commonly known as Fat Tuesday or Pancake Day - takes place on February 25th. The name comes from the word "shrive", meaning absolution for sins by doing penance. The day gets its name from the tradition of Christians trying to be 'shriven' before Lent. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as worshippers used up rich foods, including eggs, milk, yeast and sugar, in the kitchen, before they began their fast during Lent.

The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to lengthen and Lent arrives at a time when the hours of daylight are lengthening as spring approaches. The color purple is associated with Lent as it signifies both penance and hope. During this period purple church vestments (altar cloths and the priests' liturgical garments) are used. Purple reflects the traditional color of mourning (recalling Jesus' death) and also is symbolic of royalty (celebrating Christ's coming as King).

Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable Fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. In 2020, Ash Wednesday will fall on February 26th. Despite the 40 day fasting rule, it actually is 46 days before Easter, as many Christians take breaks from fasting on Sundays (both for health reasons and due to it being the Sabbath day). The six Sundays within the period are not fast days (Sundays are always feast days in the Christian calendar) and therefore not counted in the 40 days of Lent. According to the Catholic Church, officially since 1970, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sunset on Holy Thursday.

When the ancient Hebrews made their public confession of their sin, they would tear their clothing, don sackcloth and smear ashes on their heads. This was a sign that Hebrews admitted their destructive patterns of behavior and were committed to new and life-giving behavior instead.

Many church denominations practice the wearing of ashes on the forehead in the sign of a cross on Ash Wednesday. Ashes symbolize true heartfelt repentance. More important than the outward symbol of ashes is the inner reality of a contrite heart. “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” - Daniel 9:3.

Lent is a season of repentance, self-examination and quiet contemplation of the mysteries of God. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for solitude, prayer, and fasting. Christians do this to make ready for the forgiveness of their sins and fleshy lives with the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday as they follow his footsteps through Holy Week.

We are indeed mortal – we are dust, and to dust we shall return - Genesis 3:19. We are reminded that we are still sinners in need of continuous conversion. The Church now calls us back once again to the graces of our baptism, to do penance, and amend our lives as we approach the greatest celebration and high point of the Christian Church year — Easter.

To learn more about the Lenten season services, contact your local church. Lent is generally celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Greek Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and some Baptist and Mennonite congregations.

Mark Gunderman can be reached at gunderman2001@aol.com.

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