From the PASTOR
Ash Wednesday. Lent. Easter.
Doesn’t take long to get back into the swing of things, does it? Kindy. Pre-school. School. TAFE. Uni. Work. And so we begin another year. January is well and truly over. Only 4 weeks of summer left. Easter is early this year and we only have 11 months until Christmas! Before we jump to Easter, let’s first fill in a few gaps. Most of us, if not all of us, know the season of Easter includes the pre-season called Lent, and Lent of course begins on Ash Wednesday. This year Ash Wednesday falls on 14th February and marks the beginning of Lent. This is a time for repentance and renewal, discipleship and walking the way of the cross. Some traditional Christian practices are things like prayer, fasting, meditation and giving for the needs of others.
The season of Lent runs for 40 days prior to Easter. The 40 days of Lent remind us of the 40 days of fasting Jesus endured in the wilderness after his baptism; and this marks the beginning of his mission and public ministry. The number 40 is highly significant and there are a number of other events that we can relate:
Moses fasted 40 days on the mountain when he received God's law.
Elijah also spent 40 days on Mount Horeb.
The children of Israel spent 40 years in the desert before they entered the Promised Land.
These occasions are kind of symbolic with some of the testing times we face in life; we would do well to remember, as God was with these people during their times, God is also with us.
Lent is usually as understood as a season of repentance, with an emphasis on fasting and prayer. There is also another tradition some people observe before Ash Wednesday, and that is Shrove Tuesday, or the day many people make pancakes; the day before Lent. And this seems to be becoming more and more popular lately. This tradition had to do with eating up all your rich food that was kept in the pantry before going into a time of fasting for Lent, when it couldn’t be eaten. The French call this Mardi Gras (aka “Fat Tuesday”); like many traditions and words that get regurgitated today, Mardi Gras has kind of lost its original meaning.
The 40 days of Lent does not include Sundays, because Sunday is the day of Jesus’ resurrection. So every Sunday throughout the year is what we can call a “mini-Easter”. Lent reaches its climax in Holy Week, with a focus on Jesus’ suffering and death on Good Friday. After the wonders and terrors of Good Friday, Easter Saturday marks the last day of Lent; the day Jesus lay in the tomb. If you have ever wondered about that phrase we say in the Creed and what St Peter wrote in his letter, “he (Jesus) descended into hell...”, you now know what that means; he went and preached to the captive souls there. Like Advent is a time to prepare us for Christmas; the birth of the promised Messiah. So Ash Wednesday and Lent is a time to prepare us for Easter. The season brings us through a time of remembering the suffering of Christ, and the reason for his suffering. That he suffered and died for the sin of the world; yours and mine. This also prepares us for the glorious joy of the Easter proclamation: he is risen! And the even more greater response of our Easter Faith – “He has risen indeed!”.
We Remember in Prayer:
† Pastors, teachers and laypeople who pass on the apostolic message of the gospel.
† Missionaries working in other countries and here at home.
† All nations, that the light of Christ shines on them.
† Our own nation, that our leaders and people pursue peace and justice.
† Those who say they are Christian but do not practice their faith.
† The wealthy, that they may share their wealth as a gift to the poor.
† Those who are travelling.
Doesn’t take long to get back into the swing of things, does it? Kindy. Pre-school. School. TAFE. Uni. Work. And so we begin another year. January is well and truly over. Only 4 weeks of summer left. Easter is early this year and we only have 11 months until Christmas! Before we jump to Easter, let’s first fill in a few gaps. Most of us, if not all of us, know the season of Easter includes the pre-season called Lent, and Lent of course begins on Ash Wednesday. This year Ash Wednesday falls on 14th February and marks the beginning of Lent. This is a time for repentance and renewal, discipleship and walking the way of the cross. Some traditional Christian practices are things like prayer, fasting, meditation and giving for the needs of others.
The season of Lent runs for 40 days prior to Easter. The 40 days of Lent remind us of the 40 days of fasting Jesus endured in the wilderness after his baptism; and this marks the beginning of his mission and public ministry. The number 40 is highly significant and there are a number of other events that we can relate:
Moses fasted 40 days on the mountain when he received God's law.
Elijah also spent 40 days on Mount Horeb.
The children of Israel spent 40 years in the desert before they entered the Promised Land.
These occasions are kind of symbolic with some of the testing times we face in life; we would do well to remember, as God was with these people during their times, God is also with us.
Lent is usually as understood as a season of repentance, with an emphasis on fasting and prayer. There is also another tradition some people observe before Ash Wednesday, and that is Shrove Tuesday, or the day many people make pancakes; the day before Lent. And this seems to be becoming more and more popular lately. This tradition had to do with eating up all your rich food that was kept in the pantry before going into a time of fasting for Lent, when it couldn’t be eaten. The French call this Mardi Gras (aka “Fat Tuesday”); like many traditions and words that get regurgitated today, Mardi Gras has kind of lost its original meaning.
The 40 days of Lent does not include Sundays, because Sunday is the day of Jesus’ resurrection. So every Sunday throughout the year is what we can call a “mini-Easter”. Lent reaches its climax in Holy Week, with a focus on Jesus’ suffering and death on Good Friday. After the wonders and terrors of Good Friday, Easter Saturday marks the last day of Lent; the day Jesus lay in the tomb. If you have ever wondered about that phrase we say in the Creed and what St Peter wrote in his letter, “he (Jesus) descended into hell...”, you now know what that means; he went and preached to the captive souls there. Like Advent is a time to prepare us for Christmas; the birth of the promised Messiah. So Ash Wednesday and Lent is a time to prepare us for Easter. The season brings us through a time of remembering the suffering of Christ, and the reason for his suffering. That he suffered and died for the sin of the world; yours and mine. This also prepares us for the glorious joy of the Easter proclamation: he is risen! And the even more greater response of our Easter Faith – “He has risen indeed!”.
We Remember in Prayer:
† Pastors, teachers and laypeople who pass on the apostolic message of the gospel.
† Missionaries working in other countries and here at home.
† All nations, that the light of Christ shines on them.
† Our own nation, that our leaders and people pursue peace and justice.
† Those who say they are Christian but do not practice their faith.
† The wealthy, that they may share their wealth as a gift to the poor.
† Those who are travelling.