Lent and your Christian journey
DID YOU know that Ash Wednesday is a holy day? Maybe not. Even many newer church groups are not aware that it is not a holiday.
The concept of Ash Wednesday is informed by ancient tradition which recognised that it was important for everyone to come together for confession, fasting, and contrition. However, the place of penitence and remorsefulness is not so valued anymore.
It is common to see many Christians, flaunting how blessed they are, while being quick to judge and condemn others. They are quick to call for prayers in a group, but may be slow to being people of compassion and empathy.
When you get a chance peep at chapter 1 of the Prophet Joel. He also observes, “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.” He goes on to speak of sackcloth and ashes. The church in a variation of the symbol imposes the penitent on Ash Wednesday with a cross of ashes on the forehead. As everyone is imposed with ashes, each one is told, “Repent and believe the gospel.” At the end of the imposition of ashes, the presiding minister then says, “Return to the Lord with all your heart; leave the past in ashes and turn to God with tears and fasting, for God is slow to anger and ready to forgive.”
The religious right in America is an excellent example of how the privileged is often offended by the truth of oppression. Have you seen how MSNBC host Joy Reid, has come under attack from the religious right? They have defined her as being “anti-Christian” and “anti-white”.
She made the mistake of acknowledging that many of Donald Trump’s support comes from white evangelicals. It is noteworthy that many of these groups are also alive and well in Jamaica, through their black versions of the American transplants. Joy Reid referenced Robbie Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, who (speaking about white evangelicals) told her, “They see themselves as the rightful inheritors of this country, and Trump has promised to give it back to them.” If this commentary is true, what might this be saying about this large body of Christians and their capacity to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Lent provides us with an opportunity to examine corporate sin and our individual roles in the systemic evils and wickedness that often plague our world. Too often, many Christians hide behind their favourite doctrines while ignoring the human suffering that abounds.
It is common practice on Ash Wednesday for the liturgy to begin with words from Psalm 51:18, “The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, You will not despise.” A common collect is said in these words, “Almighty and everlasting God, who hates nothing that you have made, and forgives the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Many Christians no longer feel a need for this prayer since they have become much more holy than the saints. If you listen to how many speak, they are above everyone else who attends another church.
Over the years we have become so preoccupied with labelling politicians and police as corrupt. It is as if we forget that corruption in any place or space can only be facilitated by a combination of the accused and those making the accusations. We have a violence problem. We have a trust issue. We also tend to have an anything goes approach to seemingly minor acts of corruption or depending on whether it is our political party committing the breach!
Many fasting fads will be announced. How about fasting from envy and greed this lent? How about fasting from being god in your workplace? How about fasting from minding everybody else’s business? Just pause and take a look at you for a change! What may be some things that you are doing that go against the good news of God’s Kingdom? The good news of righteousness, peace, and love.
Getting back to Holy Scripture though, in James 5:16, we are exhorted, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” The Rite for the Reconciliation of Penitents or Sacramental Confession is one of the most beautiful opportunities provided by the church. A specially valued section of this experience for me as a priest is when I say to the penitent, “Go in peace, and pray also for me, a sinner.”
May your Lenten journey be blessed as you pray, fast, study, and share with others.