A Letter from the Rector - Lent 2010
My dear friends,
The Lenten season takes its name from the word “lengthen” - the time of year when the days are getting longer.
It seems curious at first that the name “Lent”, which we associate with self-denial and hardship, should have, as its basis, the experience of the sun returning. But, of course, that makes perfect sense because only in the light of Easter's approach does Lent make any sense at all.
Traditionally Lent has been about practicing some kind of self-denial – by “giving up something for Lent”. Or it has been about undertaking a special focus on spiritual depth – by undertaking some study or special spiritual practice. Or Lent has been about preparing to walk the way of the cross – through some e specially sacrificial acts of generosity or by preparing for one's own death. These are dark and difficult sides of human experience and it is easy to think that Lent is the time we undertake them in order to toughen ourselves up so we can better face life's difficult challenges.
That's when it is important not to miss the association of Lent with the lengthening days which anticipate the glory of Easter.
Why do we give things up in Lent?
It is when we lose sight of the tremendous love and power of God underlying us at every moment that we get desperate about accumulating things. The end result is a culture and an economic system founded on consumerism, and the effects of that on the globe and individual people are devastating. The underlying issue is the emptiness we feel inside when we loose touch with God's pervasive goodness. In the light of Easter approaching, giving up something in Lent is a way of putting our confidence back in God's reality. It is a way of striking a blow at the emptiness of consumerism which tries to substitute itself for God and thereby threatens the future of the planet. Without Easter in the background, giving up something for Lent would become just a self-serving way of getting tougher in tough times. With Easter in the background, giving up something becomes a liberating act of freedom.
Why do we take on a special spiritual practice in Lent?
Unique in this world, humans have the ability to press ever deeper into experiencing our foundation – we call that journey “spirituality”. Without that experience, we feel meaningless, without purpose, frustrated and powerless. If taking on spiritual practices was about cultivating nice religious feelings, there would be no point. But with the light of Easter shining on us, the Lenten practice of a special spiritual awareness of the power and love of God leads us to a depth of being alive that we would never have imagined possible.
Why do we embrace sacrifice and even our own death during Lent?
Nobody lives a life in relationship, or in service of an ideal, without sacrifice. Sacrifice means that something else is of greater value than my comfort. Embracing my death means that something else is of greater value even than my life. If that Lenten focus was just an exercise in humility it wouldn't amount to much, and might even be unhealthy and self-destructive. But with the light of Easter shining on us, undertaking sacrifice – for someone we love, or for bringing in God’s kingdom – is the deepest and most joyful way of expressing love and commitment. Facing our own death is not fascination about self-destruction, but is the way in which we come to know that we are upheld by a source that is deeper than our own life. The result is to be really free and to be filled with confidence and new life.
The real purpose of Lent is to give us a time of deepening our own life and wonder and joy which will become fully revealed on Easter Day. In Lent we have the support of Lenten programs, Lenten liturgies, and a Lenten community all of which carry us along as the days grow brighter, and as our Lord's appearing approaches.
Events
The calendar will provide you with many opportunities to deepen your life in the new light of the risen Christ. May I draw your attention to several special opportunities? Shrove Tuesday February 16th is a great occasion for fun and pancakes and jollity for people of all ages. Ash Wednesday features services of receiving ashes on our foreheads as a sign of our trust in the resurrection in the face of darkness. Each Wednesday in Lent we have a special speaker – this year each person is sharing something of their own spirituality – there are both ordained people and people from secular callings. I think you will find their diversity and thoughtfulness very challenging. My own teaching series this Lent will be to lead a weekly discussion on the best-selling novel “The Shack”. I have a family connection wit the author and commend this imaginative story as a good way of exploring the personal implications of Christian faith.
You will find dates, times, and details of these programs and others, particularly the 150 th anniversary honouring women in the church on March 14th– in the calendar.
You may wish to be part of making the many ministries and opportunities at St. John's available – please use Canada Helps to do so.
May your Lent be a holy one which brings you into the light of the Risen Christ.
Sincerely yours,
