Ash Wednesday and Lent
I am not catholic, but I was raised Episcopalian which is the US version of Anglican. Here and there I have looked at Lent as a good discipline for the liturgical church, but somehow lacked the courage to go "gung-ho" on it. Maybe because I wasn't fully convinced that it made a difference in my life or in the lives of others. Or because I wasn't participating in a faith community that followed it strongly.
However, the older I get, I see the need for spiritual seasons, similar to Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Life has a cyclical rhythmn and I need it. So I return to Lent and the beginning of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Lent is a reflective 40 days of repentance, mourning, fasting, prayer and anticipation. I looked on the internet for ideas and I found an article written by a catholic deacon from New York. Although I am not catholic I understand what he says as he writes to the faithful about this season of ashes, mourning, giving up, letting go, and letting God.
Maybe we think we know what Lent is about: fasting, alms-giving, prayer. And, of course, a sense of finality. We begin it all with these grey-black reminders on our brows. The ashes tell anyone who sees us: “We are sinners. We are human. We are dust.” Those ashes are the great equalizer. No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter how much you make…you are dust.
No matter what awards you win or honors you achieve, however beautiful you may be…you are dust. We are dust. Every one of us. These ashes proclaim that to the world—and declare that the great work of Lent has begun.
They are a mark of our humanity—and, significantly, our humility. Which is why what Pope Benedict did this week may be the ultimate lesson for Lent. It is a lesson in letting go. A man who has, arguably, the most important job in the (catholic church) world is letting it go. In our modern age, that is almost unthinkable.
We are used to climbing the ladder and enjoying the view. We’re taught to work for the best office in the building and the best seat at the table. We strive to get, to own, to possess, to control. We’re used to holding on. We’re not used to letting go.
But Benedict is saying: “It’s okay. Let go.” Know when it is time to let someone else lead. Know when it’s time to follow. Let go. To borrow a phrase from the recovery movement: let go…and let God.
How many of us have trouble with that? Over the next 40 days, we need to take a hard look at those things in our lives that we are holding onto. This Lent, don’t give them up. Let them go.
Look at all the other things that define who we are (jobs, work, roles, titles), what we do (vocations, occupations). And look, in particular, at the choices that lead us (away from God) to sin.
What are they? How about pride? Let it go. Let go of always feeling like you have all the answers. Let go of pettiness, jealousy, gossip. Let go of sarcasm. Let go of bitterness, hostility, anger (competition, comparison, criticism, etc.). Let go of fear.
Let go of the temptation to just step around the guy on the sidewalk, or avoid the old woman down the hall, or spend that last five bucks on a cinnamon dolce crème frappuccino. Instead, spend what you have elsewhere. Spend time with someone who is lonely. Spend money on the poor. Spend your prayers on those who have no one to pray for them. (* Spend time in meaningful relationships)
Let go of anything that gets in the way between you and God.
There is no better time than here and now. Remember: we are dust.
While our Lenten journey begins on a day of ashes, it doesn’t end there. It ends on a day of resurrection and salvation and radiant hope.
So, across these 40 days look to that day. Pray in a special way for all the church. Pray that all of us can learn from Pope Benedict’s extraordinary example this Lent. Let that be our lesson, and let him be our teacher. He is offering us the lesson of a lifetime.
This Lent, may we all have the courage, the faith, and the trust to know when to let go…and let God.
internet accessed february 13, 2013
Some faith communities have a season of revival renewal meetings. Certain churches have January fasting prayer week. Other institutions have spiritual emphasis month in February. Ramadan serves in this way for Muslims. Each religion has periods of repentance and renewal. It is a need of the human psyche, body, soul and spirit. We need it.
However, the older I get, I see the need for spiritual seasons, similar to Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Life has a cyclical rhythmn and I need it. So I return to Lent and the beginning of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Lent is a reflective 40 days of repentance, mourning, fasting, prayer and anticipation. I looked on the internet for ideas and I found an article written by a catholic deacon from New York. Although I am not catholic I understand what he says as he writes to the faithful about this season of ashes, mourning, giving up, letting go, and letting God.
A homily for Ash Wednesday. By Greg Kandra
The winner of “what are you giving up for lent” goes to the
pope. (* who is resigning from the position of pope in a surprise move. Usually
popes serve until death.)
Maybe we think we know what Lent is about: fasting, alms-giving, prayer. And, of course, a sense of finality. We begin it all with these grey-black reminders on our brows. The ashes tell anyone who sees us: “We are sinners. We are human. We are dust.” Those ashes are the great equalizer. No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter how much you make…you are dust.
No matter what awards you win or honors you achieve, however beautiful you may be…you are dust. We are dust. Every one of us. These ashes proclaim that to the world—and declare that the great work of Lent has begun.
They are a mark of our humanity—and, significantly, our humility. Which is why what Pope Benedict did this week may be the ultimate lesson for Lent. It is a lesson in letting go. A man who has, arguably, the most important job in the (catholic church) world is letting it go. In our modern age, that is almost unthinkable.
We are used to climbing the ladder and enjoying the view. We’re taught to work for the best office in the building and the best seat at the table. We strive to get, to own, to possess, to control. We’re used to holding on. We’re not used to letting go.
But Benedict is saying: “It’s okay. Let go.” Know when it is time to let someone else lead. Know when it’s time to follow. Let go. To borrow a phrase from the recovery movement: let go…and let God.
How many of us have trouble with that? Over the next 40 days, we need to take a hard look at those things in our lives that we are holding onto. This Lent, don’t give them up. Let them go.
Look at all the other things that define who we are (jobs, work, roles, titles), what we do (vocations, occupations). And look, in particular, at the choices that lead us (away from God) to sin.
What are they? How about pride? Let it go. Let go of always feeling like you have all the answers. Let go of pettiness, jealousy, gossip. Let go of sarcasm. Let go of bitterness, hostility, anger (competition, comparison, criticism, etc.). Let go of fear.
Let go of the temptation to just step around the guy on the sidewalk, or avoid the old woman down the hall, or spend that last five bucks on a cinnamon dolce crème frappuccino. Instead, spend what you have elsewhere. Spend time with someone who is lonely. Spend money on the poor. Spend your prayers on those who have no one to pray for them. (* Spend time in meaningful relationships)
Let go of anything that gets in the way between you and God.
There is no better time than here and now. Remember: we are dust.
While our Lenten journey begins on a day of ashes, it doesn’t end there. It ends on a day of resurrection and salvation and radiant hope.
So, across these 40 days look to that day. Pray in a special way for all the church. Pray that all of us can learn from Pope Benedict’s extraordinary example this Lent. Let that be our lesson, and let him be our teacher. He is offering us the lesson of a lifetime.
This Lent, may we all have the courage, the faith, and the trust to know when to let go…and let God.
internet accessed february 13, 2013
Some faith communities have a season of revival renewal meetings. Certain churches have January fasting prayer week. Other institutions have spiritual emphasis month in February. Ramadan serves in this way for Muslims. Each religion has periods of repentance and renewal. It is a need of the human psyche, body, soul and spirit. We need it.
posted by Carl | 10:33 PM
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