By Marianne Furtado de Nazareth –
The Lenten season is a time for introspection; and the forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the continuous temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
The ashes taken after the burning of Palm branches (or crosses made from Palm leaves) from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations are used to draw a cross on the head of people to mark the beginning of their Lenten fast. The drawing of a cross is often done while repeating the words which literally pulls one up by the short hairs — “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). How utterly succinct and clear those words are.
I recently read a pertinent Facebook post by a friend, about how the Church too needs its own Easter. To die and be raised, and changed into a new and glorious form. She said she hoped we can be the voices for that change. One does not have to be Roman Catholic or even Christian to recognize the good done by the church in our world. In India we have to just look around us to see the selfless work being done, especially the uplift of the poor and needy by our church. The effort is magnanimous and no dilution by the evil works being done by some of the clergy can diminish it.
Of late stories of pedophile priests have been flooding social media to the glee of those who would like to malign the church. We cannot hide from these evil deeds which have destroyed the minds and lives of so many children kept in the ‘safe’ hands of these priests. These deeds have sadly destroyed the faith of many, especially the young with high ideals of the church. That is why there has to be a rejuvenation and resurrection, an Easter if you may, within our church as well.
Lent as we are aware, is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and inner reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Interestingly, I have a number of friends who give up Social media or WhatsApp, both which they feel gives them a great sense of enjoyment, and needs to be curtailed in this season of frugality.
And Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” says a catholic site and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the coming Resurrection. Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of year for many Christians around the world. Lent for us is given a similar level of importance as Advent – the enjoyable build up to Christmas.
Think Advent and we think of a time for celebration and a time of great anticipation. Lent is more sombre and seen as a time of solemnity and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday, until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or abstaining from all things enjoyable. Reflect on the manner in which we meticulously prepare for personal events, like a wedding, or a birthday; or even the birth of a baby. Lent invites us to cleanse our minds and hearts similarly, by feeling the pain and walking along with Jesus through his death and resurrection.
Because Lent follows the liturgical calendar, the exact date that Lent falls on each year changes. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is always held 46 days (40 fasting days and 6 Sundays) before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday is the day after Shrove Tuesday, on which my Mum would make the most delicious coconut filled pancakes.
These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many different ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly, beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs and fats until Easter Sunday. Personally as a family we have felt, eating fish instead of meat during Lent is not really fasting or abstinence as fish is a bigger luxury than meat is. So we go vegetarian for the season.
Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. Many people also give up watching TV, going to the gym, even social media, in order to refocus on their faith during this time.
Many older folk also use Lent to read daily passages from their Bibles and pray more intensively, making use of the many devotional books and courses now available. And, of course, more and more Christians are turning to reading and sharing, simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first, during preparations for Easter.
As Holy Week draws to a close and Easter approaches, we have Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples in which he predicts his betrayal by the following denial by Peter; and Good Friday, the day on which Christians around the world remember Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. With Good Friday over, Christians look forward to Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from his tomb. A day of rejoicing and celebration.
Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth,
Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald, &
Adjunct faculty St. Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, Bangalore.