Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. On this day, we begin our long period of preparation for Easter. The forty days of Lent have their origin way back in the days of the early church. They remind us of the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before commencing his ministry. They also remind us of the last phase of Christ's life on earth, when he 'set his face towards Jerusalem'. But if you count through your diary, you may wonder why there are forty-seven days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The answer is simple - Sundays don't count. They are celebrated as feast days, so offer a day off from Lenten austerity.
If you take Ash Wednesday seriously, it is a day for receiving the sign of the cross, in ash, on your forehead, as a sign of repentance and sorrow for your sins. This custom derives from a very ancient tradition, when ash was literally sprinkled over the heads of the penitent people. The Collect for Ash Wednesday is the ultimate penitential prayer. As we say, 'Create in us new and contrite hearts', it sets the tone for the Lenten period.
Originally, Lent was a period of preparation. In the first three Christian centuries, it was a time of instruction and teaching for new converts, before their baptism at dawn on Easter Sunday. Only in the Middle Ages did it become a time for self-denial - for fasting and abstinence. People still talk about giving something up for Lent, although this should never become an end in itself, but a means of self-discipline, in order to bring us closer to God.
The ultimate goal of Lent is to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The magnitude of this event merits extra time to prepare, in order that we may be ready to celebrate the great feast. So Lent is a good time to think and pray, read a devotional book, and seek to grow closer to God.
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give me rather the spirit of sobriety, humility, patience and love.
O Lord and King, grant me to see my own shortcomings, and not to judge my brother, for blessed are You for all time. Amen (St. Ephraim the Syrian AD 305-373)
Dear Father God,
We thank You for Your great love and mercy in sending Your Son Jesus Christ to redeem us to Your righteous presence.
During our Lent time we specially remember our Savior's excruciating painful thoughts at His immanent death ahead for us. Because of His amazing grace we dare to pray to You our Father in the name of Jesus Christ that you would send a special message to each of us according to the very present needs of each of us. With that we would be strengthened in body and mind befitting: to spread the Good News. to worship You, for spiritual renewal, for fellowship, to serve, to give, to seek help.
(Miranda Songsiridej, Christ Church, Bangkok)
Soon 'Spring Cleaning' will be underway in most of our homes. Few would say that it is unnecessary and out of date. The word Lent means Spring. A 'Spring Clean' of the self...... Do try to use Lent to spring clean your heart and to deepen your love of Jesus.
(Revd. Ralph Charlton, Brighstone, Isle of Wight)
Opmerkingen