Lent
March 12th, 2009 | by Matthew Smith |Tonight I read the Wikipedia entry on Lent seeing as the start of lent completely passed me by. I knew before that the practice of lent comes from the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert after he was baptised. I also knew that lent is traditionally a time of fasting but for most western Christians, we just give something up for lent rather than go without.
I was interested to read that lent derives from the German word for spring “lenz” (or Dutch “lente”) but in Australia of course, it corresponds to the start of autumn. It is also thought that the fasting may have arisen due to the “gap” in the food cycle that occurs at the start of spring when winter stores have run out but no new crops have been grown yet. The change of season in the southern hemisphere at lent can still work with the symbology. As we move towards Easter, the weather turns colder and the leaves die from deciduous trees. In Brisbane where I live, we get colder weather and usually a month of drizzling rain at lent. But either way, the Easter becomes associated with bleak, cold and colourless days.
I also learnt today that lent is not just about fasting: there are three disciplines that are traditionally observed: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. The idea is there is a focus on reforming your self, your relationship with God and your Christian practice towards your neighbour.
Based on my previous reading of liturgical history, I would guess that the emphasis on fasting during lent arose during the medieval period since this was a time where popular theology tended towards extreme penance. The Christian world-view during this time became increasingly hierarchical and the threat of damnation and hell became a major theme in church teaching. I can’t remember the exact theory but my recollection is that this all came about as the church became increasingly intertwined with state power and needed to exercise control over its subjects (using the carrot and stick approach).
Of course, post-reformation lent is sometimes non-existent or just watered down where as it seems there is room to revive other aspects of lent such as the prayer and almsgiving. Prayer doesn’t have to gloomy when we think of it as a conversation with our creator, a rediscovery of our purpose and rekindling of our appreciation for creation and the miracle of life. Likewise, almsgiving can be just as joyful as giving presents at Christmas.
Questions in my mind now are: what do others make of the fact that lent occurs in autumn in the southern hemisphere? Are there any churches or Christian groups pushing the envelope when it comes to lent or is it a declining tradition?