For many Sunday was the first day of ‘Lent.’ This is a period of 40 days before Easter as Christian’s prepare. Those who follow, or at least claim to follow ‘Lent’ will often be heard enquiring what others are ‘giving up’ for Lent. The usual response appears to centre on foodstuffs, chocolates for the women, potatoes and beer for the men. In the end it comes to nothing. I have on occasion during such discussions suggested that instead of foregoing chocolate the women could cease bitchiness or gossip. I have remarked, in love, that the men could keep the potatoes and beer and instead deal honestly with their customers or staff.
I ought to make clear, I have few friends.
The word Lent comes from the old English word ‘lencten,’ which means little more than ‘Spring.’
A quick perusal of scripture shows that there is no mention of Lent. Indeed the nearest we get is a quote from a man called Irenaeus, (who lived C130 -202) in a letter to one Victor in Rome regarding preparations for Easter that, “Variation in observance did not originate in our own day, but very much earlier, in the time of our forefathers." This letter was written towards the end of the century, around C190, and could be referring to the actions of the early church one hundred years before. There is however, no hard evidence of Lent as we know it from this time. Irenaeus spoke of churches in his locale, Gaul, (that is France to you) having a two day fast before Pasha, or Easter. Tertullian, in North Africa in his time recorded that churches there also had a 48 hour fast, reflecting Christ’s time in the tomb. The 40 day fast was not known apparently in Egypt until after C 325.
Fasting was of course known in the time of Jesus. It was common for Jews to fast twice a week and clearly Jesus had practised fasting during his life. It is not possible to fast 40 days and survive without much preparation.
The 40 day fast before Easter did not emerge until after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Even then some say this was only for new converts, and the actual days involved in the practice of fasting varied according to the region. After Nicea the fast became a strict one, no meat, fish or dairy, and one meal only after 3 pm.
However, we must remember that scripture does not demand fasting. This fast arose after Jesus death and resurrection and then in preparation for the commemoration of his rising, something we ought to do each Sunday anyway, and in fact we ought to be doing this each day, not just once a year.
While the early fathers may have been seeking spiritual benefits from Lent it is easy to see how this quickly became legalistic and man centred. Instead of fasting to get near to God it was fasting for its own sake.
A great danger, one which John Calvin spoke of, was the danger fasting being a form of works, to earn salvation. Salvation comes solely from the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, if we see fasting as a ‘work’ we are no longer trusting him but ourselves. The reformers would argue that Lent encourages a form of self-discipline, whereas we ought to be seeking Jesus and allowing his Holy Spirit to lead is to repentance, not penance, Holy Spirit led discipline, trusting God ,not ourselves. For sure, our Father wants to lead us to a Holy Life. That is why Jesus died!
If we must have a term of Lent, let us make use of this to draw near to God our Father, through his Son Jesus. If we fast let it be so to cleanse the toxics from the body and enable us to hear the Holy Spirit lead us to the cross. We must not beat ourselves up to fast for the sake of it, it must be used to enable us to hear the Lord speak.
So, let us concentrate on reading his word, doing what it says, and spend time in prayer talking and listening to what Our Father requires to bring us nearer to him.
