We know Lent to be a time of preparation before Good Friday and Easter. Now where does the name “Lent” come from? The best speculation is that it is a contraction from the old English word for “lengthen”, as in the days that are lengthening in Spring. In other languages this time is known as the time of the Fast, or fasting. Symbolically the 40-day period of Lent (not including the Sundays, as Sundays are always a little celebration of Easter), parallels Christ’s withdrawal into the wilderness, where He fasted and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

The mood for Lent, therefore, is a time of sorrow for sins, repentance and fasting. Even on Sundays we say “farewell to the Alleluias” as the more joyous elements of the liturgy and hymns are omitted. During this time of fasting we are encouraged to give up something we are used to, like a habit, or a type of food. This is to serve as a reminder of the suffering that Christ went through to bring us salvation. However, the inward preparation of the heart exceeds in importance, as we have opportunity every Wednesday evening to become silent before the Lord and reflect on the Passion of Christ in the presence of fellow members of the Body of Christ.

Lent starts with Ash Wednesday. In the Early Church, going back to biblical times, people publically repented for public sins in sackcloth and ashes. Even Jesus Himself refers to ashes in Matthew 11:21. The day before Ash Wednesday is known as “Shrove Tuesday”, which takes its name from “shriving” or the forgiving of sins. In many countries that day is a day of reveling and celebrating before the great fast. It even gives us the word “carnival”, the Latin for “goodbye to meat”. In French countries the day is called “Mardi Gras”, or “Fat Tuesday”. Perhaps this is because the housewife was expected to use up all her fats and butter in baked goods.

Before Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire, so before AD 381, and publicly thereafter, the 40 days before Easter were used to teach Catechumens. These were all the adults who had heard the Gospel, had come to faith, but were not yet baptized. They were usually sent out of the Divine Service on Sundays before the Service of the Sacrament (“Missa” in Latin for “sent”, now known as the “Mass”) and taught the teachings of the Bible. During Lent they received vigorous instruction every day. They often had to wear coarse clothing, go barefoot, fast and live in confinement until the Fifth Sunday in Lent where they were taught the Apostles' Creed for the first time and on Palm Sunday they were taught the Lord’s Prayer. They were then baptized on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil and were allowed to receive the Lord’s Supper for the first time on Easter.

Here at Trinity, we will be offering Adult Information Classes from February 19th through April 1st, every Sunday evening at 6:00 pm. Have no fear! The classes and routine will not reflect those mentioned above! So, you come and/or invite someone to come to these classes, and be refreshed in the teachings of God’s Word. Especially if you know of someone outside the Church, bring them and share in the wonderful Good News of Christ and Him crucified and risen for our eternal salvation!

May your time of reflection on the cross of Christ be a blessing to you and to those around you!

In Christ,
Pastor Gerald Paul

Pastor Paul can be reached at pastor@trinity-mt.org