I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the
observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God's holy Word.
Dear Friends,
A couple of years ago, while I was in my last semester of seminary in New York City, I received a letter from Bishop Henderson wishing me "a blessed and miserable Lent." As I looked out of the window of my tiny apartment, I understood what he meant. The streets were covered with dirty snow and ice, the trees were bare, and there were no flowers to be seen anywhere. I missed my family and friends and I felt generally miserable.
Sometimes I think those of us who live in the south miss out on the proper misery of Lent. We endure little of the suffering of our northern neighbors. We get to go outside all the time and see blue sky and flowers in bloom. We live in a place of natural brightness and beauty that makes the darkness of Lent seem "foreign" somehow. It's as if people have to work extra hard to be gloomy, because we live in an area of almost perpetual springtime and new growth. Who wants to do that? On the other hand, I think we also miss out on some of the glory of springtime that northerners enjoy. The blooming of crocuses and the appearance of new leaves on the trees is a cause of great celebration up there, probably because winter is so dismal. The folks up north REALLY get into spring.
So it is with Lent. The fact is that not everyone feels the need to take on a Lenten discipline. And with life as hard as it is, who wants to create more hardship? But after having experienced Lent both with and without a special discipline, I can tell you that Easter celebrations are much more joyful for those who have disciplined themselves during Lent. It's as if, having endured a season of humility and quiet restraint, we experience God's renewal of us and the world much more vividly.
I would like to make you aware of two very good ways to observe Lent. First, on Wednesday evenings, we will be exploring what it means to carry out our discipleship from church on Sunday to work or school throughout the rest of the week. We will be studying a video & book series called "The Centered Life". This program helps us think through practical ways we can live our lives as Christians while living out our calling in work, school, the church, and the community. Supper will begin at 5:30 in the Field building, followed by study at 6:15, and concluding with a simple prayer service of Compline. We will be finished by 7:30. Books are $10, and financial aid is available. I believe that you will find this program enjoyable, and I sincerely hope you will sign up to join us.
Then, at the end of Lent comes Holy Week - the most spiritually meaningful time of the year. The three services of the Triduum - Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil - represent a single holiday in the Church. They are like 3 acts of a single play; each picks up where the previous one leaves off. We begin with the Maundy Thursday service which remembers Jesus' last supper and his mandate to love one another through a foot washing ceremony. The service closes in a very dramatic way when we strip the altar and remove all decorations from the worship space. The Good Friday services pick up from there, recalling Jesus' crucifixion and death on the cross. The bare church feels strange, and as we leave the church on Good Friday, we experience just a bit of the despair of the original disciples of Christ. Then on Saturday night we have the Easter Vigil, where we gather in darkness at tomb of Jesus. We hear the stories of God's salvation of the world, and we engage in the first feast of the Easter season with bells ringing and the "A-word" is sung out at last. The vigil service will be followed with a special celebration.
Even if you have not begun a Lenten fast or discipline, it is not too late to start. I assure you it will make Easter more enjoyable for you. But whether or not you do so, please give prayerful consideration to attending the Lenten program on Wednesday nights and all three of the Holy Week services. They promise to be make your experiences of the Resurrection of our Lord even more rewarding.
Wishing you peace and a miserable Lent,
Father Mark+
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