Lent at one time was a pagan celebration of weeping, fasting and mourning for forty days over the death of Tammuz, who was the son/husband of the Babylonian idol Ishtar. The forty days represents one day for each year of his life. It was said he was killed by a wild boar and then supposedly was resurrected. The mourning of Tammuz was prophesied by Ezekiel and is characterized by God as being offensive.
((Ezekiel 8:14-15) Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the temple, and I saw sitting there the women who were weeping for Tammuz. Then he said to me: Do you see this, son of man? You shall see other abominations, greater than these!)
For Christians, lent is the forty days which lead up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Easter Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Lent comes from a variety of Anglo-Saxon & Germanic words meaning spring, a time when new life is once again forming after the long days of winter when most things lay dormant. Although this once a celebration of nature and new life, to Christians it is a time of prayer and spiritual renewal. It is a time of discipline, a time of spiritual renewal and growth.
During the fourth and fifth centures, a detailed process was developed for baptism and confirmation for those wishing to enter the Church. "Catechumenate", was the name given for the complete process of this preparation. Nearing the end of this process the "catechumens" were required to set aside a period of 40 days for personal examination, instruction, penitence and prayer. This was in final preparation before becoming initiated into the community through their Baptism, Confirmation and admission to the Eurcharist during the Easter Vigil. This is also a time for those previously baptized to renew their own baptismal promises. Eventually this process called "catechumens" became know as Lent.
Lent is a time of preparation for baptism and confirmation as well as a time of penitence, discipline and personal examination for all Christians. This is a time of reflection on one's need for God, it is a time to examine your life, to discover which things may be hindering you in having a personal relationship with God. This is time when most remember and reflect on the suffering of Jesus and why it was necessary. It is the time when we remember God's promise that our sins are washed clean by the blood of the lamb. This lamb being Jesus, who was crucified for our sins, resurrected and ascended to heaven.
Lent is a
time when people usually spend extra time in personal and public prayer.
This is a period of spiritual rejuvenation and development. It is
a time to re-examen our values, our goals, our attitude towards others
and God. During this time, we reflect on all that Jesus accomplished
during his life here on earth, his preachings, the healings, the caring,
the love and warmth he had for all. It is a time to evaluate our
own perspectives and make changes so, we can walk in the footsteps of our
Lord, to show others what a wonder and blessing it is to be led by Jesus
and follow his teachings.
FASTING DURING LENT
What exactly is fasting? Fasting means different things to different people. For some fasting may mean going a complete day without eating, while for others it means skipping only one meal. The one term that everyone can agree on though is that fasting requires discipline. Fasting is a form of atonement, it is a time of doing without none essentials in order to truely acknowledge what things are of importance. Subsequent to commencing his public ministry, Jesus went alone into the wilderness where he spent 40 days in prayer and fasting. His followers were also expect to fast according to his word.
((St. Matthew 4: 1-2) Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry)
((St. Matthew 6:16-18) "And when you fast do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, who disfigure their faces in order to appear to men as fasting. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou dost fast, annoint they head and wash they face, so that thou mayest not be seen fasting by men, but by the Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who sees in secret, will reward thee.")
((St. Matthew 9:) At tht time the disciples of John came to him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, whereas they disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridgroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will fast.")
Many of the early missionaries frequently fasted prior to making notable decisions concerning the church.
((Acts 13:2-3) And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them, they let them go.") ((Acts 14:22) And when they had appointed presbysters for them in each church with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.)
Jesus also quoted from stating that happiness and fulfillment comes from having a close relationship with God.
((Deuteronomy
8:3) He therefore
let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown
to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not be bread alone does
man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord.)
ASH WEDNESDAY
Western churches celebrate Ash Wednedays as the first day of Lent and the seventh Wednesday before Easter. In the Orthodox church, Lent begins on a Monday rather than on Ash Wednesday. The name comes from the practice of placing ashes of the foreheads of worshipers to symbolize death and sorrow for sin. In reading the Bible we can see that people long ago marked special occasions such as fasting, prayer, repentance and remorese by placing ashes on their foreheads.
((Job 42-6) Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes).
((Jeremiah 6:26) O Daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes. Mourn as for an only child with bitter wailing, for sudden upon us comes the destroyer.)
These ashes placed upon our foreheads remind us of our original sins and our need for redemption. They are a sign of our need to be absolved of sin and made worthy of Salvation. Palms used in the previous Palm Sunday celebration are usually burned and the ashes used. The ashes are blessed after the Gospel and homily on Ash Wednesday. It is also customary to remove the ashes prior to leaving the church.
The use of ashes dates back to centuries before the birth of Christ. When Jonah proclaimed the coming destruction of Nineveh, the king heard and rose from his throne, lay aside his robe and covered himself in sackcloth and sat in the ashes.
((Esther 4:1-3) Now when Mardocochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head)
((Jona
3-6) When
the news reached the King of Ninive, he rose from his throne, laid aside
is robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.)
PSALM SUNDAY
Palms are very significant during the Easter celebrations because it reminds us of Jesus victorious entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Bible explains how a multitude of Jesus' followers lined the streets laying branches from the palm tree on the road before he passed by, crying out "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord".
((St. Mark 11: 8-) And many spread their cloaks upon the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and strewing them on the road.)
((John 12:13) took the branches of palms and went forth to meet him. And they cried out "hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!")
The psalm
is customarily seen as a symbol of victory and triumph. Often
the saints and especially the martyrs are characterized carrying the psalm
of victory. Carry the palm shows they have prevailed over sin and
won the victory for God.
GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday
commemorates the death of Jesus, and is observed on the Friday before Easter.
At one time the resurrection and crucifixion of Jesus were celebrated as
one and the same. During the 4th century, in Jerusalem, a procession
was staged from Gethsemane to the sanctuary of the cross, followed by biblical
readings and prayer. This was the beginning of Good Friday observances
as it is now known. The Catholic tradition consists of
reading the passion, the ceremony of the veneration of the cross, and communion
from the sacrament consecrated the day before.
REASONS WHY LENT HAS 40 DAYS
God told Noe to build an ark of resin-wood and to make it tight with fiber and cover it with pitch inside and out. After Noe had done all that God asked he sent the floods because of sinful ways which men had adopted. These 40 days represent a covenant which was made to Noah, by our Lord.
((Genesis 7: 4) For after seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the ground every living thing that I have made.)
The Lord spoke with Moses and told him to come the mountain to him and that while he was there he would give him the stone tables which would contain his commandments. After Moses had gone up a cloud covered the mountain for six days and God called to Moses on the seventh.
((Exodus 24:18) But, Moses passed into the midst of the cloud as he went up on the mountain; and there he stayed for forty days and forty nights.)
We can also see where Moses led his people to freedom according to God's wishes. These people of Israel wandered for 40 years in the desert which contained no water until reaching the promised land. It was during these 40 years that their idently was formed as a people.
(Deuteronomy 8: 2) Remember how for forty years now the Lord, you God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test yoy by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments.)
Jesus went into the wilderness alone, led by the Holy Spirit, prior to the commencement of his ministry. He spent 40 days fasting and in prayer with God. It was during this time that Satan tried everything to tempt Jesus, but with no avail.
((St. Matthew 4: 1-2) Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry)
((St. Mark 1:12-13) And immediately the Spirit drove him forth into the desert. And he was in the desert forty days and forty nights, being tempted the while by Satan and was with the wild beast, and the angels ministered to him.)
(( St. Luke 4:1-2) Now Jesus full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit about the desert for forty days, being tempted the while by the devil. And he ate nothing those days; and when they were completed he was hungry.)
First centuries Lent was observed as a forty hour period in keeping with the forty hours Jesus' body was in the tomb. This Lenten watch eneded with an Easter service at 3:00 am.
In the third
century, the forty hours evolved into a six day extension, known as Holy
Week. Then, the six days grew into 36 (36 being the tithe or a tenth
of the 365 days of the year). Finally, during the reign of Charlenagne
in the 8th century, four days were added to the 36 to create our current
celebration of Lent. Days addeded were Ash Wednesday, begin the Lenten
season, and the three following day running up to the First Sunday in Lent.
The forty days of Lent (Sundays are not included, for they are the Lords
Day, which includes a celebration of the resurrection, is a time which
calls all of us to be dedicated to discipline and personal examination.
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