Here is my reflection from the 8.30am Ash Wednesday Eucharist at St Martin-in-the-Fields:
I grew up in non-conformist churches where Lent was never a feature of their annual programmes. As a result, I have always felt that I have looked at Lent a little bit like an outsider. From that ‘outsider’s’ perspective it seems to me that there are three main ways of using Lent; all of which are ultimately to do with deepening our relationship with God.
The first is to give up something for Lent. This way of approaching Lent clearly derives from Biblical teachings on fasting such as those that we heard read in our readings. Fasting could either be a response to a particular circumstance, as in the reading from Joel, or part of a regular pattern of abstinence, as in our reading from Matthew’s Gospel.
In the first instance, we have a strong and particular sense of our unworthiness and need for forgiveness and our fasting is a part of our repentance; a way of saying to ourselves and to God that we are sorry for what we have done and intend to turn away from it. When fasting is part of a regular pattern of abstinence then it is usually more to do with freeing up time in which to spend in prayer and study of the scriptures than it is about a specific need for forgiveness.
What often happens in Lent as we give up chocolates or alcohol or whatever it is for the 40 days of Lent is usually more like the second example than the first. That doesn’t mean that Lent can’t be about responses to specific sin. It certainly can be an opportunity for that kind of self examination and repentance and this is something that our Lenten liturgy encourages as the opening responses ‘Good Lord, deliver us’ are intended as a rigorous self examination.
However, for most of us it is more likely that our abstinence during Lent will not be prompted by awareness of particular sins than by it being our usual practice. In this instance, it is worth pointing out that giving something up is in fact only half of the biblical package. The reason people in scripture abstained from food for certain periods was in order to use the time gained in prayer and study of the scriptures. So, if we do the former but not the latter then we are missing out on the real benefit and purpose of Lent which is to deepen our relationship with God by spending more time with him in prayer than is usually the case. A further aspect to giving something up is the opportunity to reflect and act on the needs of those who have so much less than ourselves and the Diocesan Lent Appeal which we are supporting will give us means by which we can take action in that regard, with a focus on ending Modern Day Slavery.
The second approach is to take something up for Lent. Traditionally, in Churches, this has meant attending a Lent study group or reading a Lent book; both of which are intended to take us deeper into an aspect of our faith and relationship with God.
The book we are studying here, The Confessions of St Augustine, is one of the greatest spiritual autobiographies written, and has had a significant impact on the church. It is “a canticle to God, full of psychological insights, which tells the story of a soul, and also the story of God, and how he is constantly at work seeking us.” We will be guided through the text, with a fresh translation by Benignus O’Rourke OSA, which sheds new light on Augustine’s spiritual journey. Each evening will follow the pattern of a community Eucharist at 6.30pm, where the different chapters of Confessions are introduced, followed by a simple shared supper and then listening groups. The book and our study guide are available from the Verger’s office today.
Often taking up a Lent study or book does also involve us in giving something up as well. I’m thinking of our time which may not usually be spent in that kind of regular study or reading or where we may be committing ourselves to extra study or reading.
In more recent years however taking something up for Lent has developed beyond study and reading to encompass actions and, in particular, acts of kindness. You could, for example, try the ‘Love Life Live Lent’ initiative which was first developed in the Diocese of Birmingham where a different act of kindness is suggested for each day of Lent. A similar approach is Christian Aid’s Count Your Blessings leaflet which suggests an action a week during Lent.
The final approach to Lent is to view it as being a time of preparation for Easter by reflecting on all that Jesus went through for our sake and all he achieved for us through his Passion and Resurrection. Some traditional ways in which people have done so have included regularly praying the Stations of the Cross or meditating on the Seven Last Words that Jesus spoke from the Cross.
The art exhibition we have in the Foyer during Lent and Eastertide may assist in doing so. Its theme of ‘Leaves for Healing’ is taken from Ezekiel 47:1-12, a vision of a transformed desert landscape. In a barren landscape the passage finishes with a wonderful vision of the fruit from the trees that grow being food and the leaves used for healing. We have here a vision of life being released into the dry desert of Ezekiel’s time and encouragement for us to imagine this life flowing into our 21st century context. The exhibition utilises this imagery to explore themes of flourishing, growth, healing and worship, with the two halves of the exhibition – one in Lent, one in Eastertide - reflecting the transition from wilderness to fertile land.
So these are some of the menu options before us as we begin this Lent. Which will we choose? They are not, of course, mutually exclusive and some might choose a gourmet Lent by taking up all the available options while others may pick ‘n’ mix by sampling a little of this and some of that. Whatever you decide the challenge is to make active use of the next forty days in order to deepen your relationship with God.
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Lord Jesus, Think On Me.
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