The Glory of these Forty Days...

Lent necessarily brings a change of pace in the Church's liturgy and life. The last three "Gesima" Sundays sort of got is into the mood, but with Wednesday's Litany and Penitential Office followed by today's Gospel which was Matthew's account of the temptation of Christ by the Devil at the end of His forty days in the wilderness the fact that Lent is upon us was brought home forcefully. In Latin, the Lenten season is called Quadragesima - the Forty Days. The English term, Lent, derives from the Old English 'Lencten' spring, and if you think that sounds a little like lengthen, then you are not far off, as the word reminds us of the lengthening of days that occurs in the northern hemisphere at this time of year.

The Chancel of Good Shepherd, Waynesboro during Lent. Photo: Christian Dove.

In terms of the church's liturgy, there is a somberness to it. The hymns grow more penitential in character, and in traditionally orientated parishes like Good Shepherd, the Re Deum, and the Gloria in Excelsis have already disappeared, but their semi-festal replacements in the form of the Benedictus es, and a cheery communion hymn, are now replaced with the Benedicite, and one of the more severe Communion Hymns. The amount of music in the liturgy is also reduced. The hangings are either a dark purple colour, referred to in church as violet, or else the off-white or grey of Lent Array prevail. The sober hangings go with the sober nature of Lent.

Lent Array - Westminster Abbey

In olden time, Lent was a time of fasting, which given the state of the food supply in the early spring in northern Europe was very much making a virtue out of a necessity. Men and women were bidden to set their spiritual houses in order, and to make their confession ready to receive Communion at Easter. Today we receive communion much more frequently, and there is no compulsion to go to confession - Anglicans teach that 'all may, some should, none must' make private confession to a priest - but we should take the opportunity to set our spiritual house in order. Given the hectic nature of life to day, it should provide us with an occasion to reorder our lives and spend less time on distractions - digital or otherwise, and more time with the Lord in prayer, study of the Scriptures, and public worship, as well as seeking to do those good works which the Lord calls us to do. The idea of Lent is not merely to give something up, but to replace with something that will draw us closer to Christ. Remember, a less time on, say, Facebook or Instagram, and a little more time in prayer or reading Scripture, or helping others will be good for your soul! The Gospels for the Lenten season all prepare us for the coming of His kingdom at Easter. It is a season which is supposed to enable both to reflect on our sins, and our need to strive after holiness, and to reflect on the life that saved us from our sins and brought us new and eternal life. Christianity is an incarnational religion, the central belief of which is that God 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.' This reminds us not just of God's love towards us, but also of the fact that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God, and called to glory, a glory which we can attain through faith in Jesus Christ.