Lenten Arithmetic

Ash Wednesday, observed by Western Christians this past Wednesday, marks the beginning of their 40 day preparation towards Easter. As expected, the secular media covers this holy day with its usual stereotypcial and (hardly) insightful observations tainted with a sense of disgust and astonishment that anyone would actually go along with this.

Stories abound about what people are "giving up for Lent." You hear of abstaining from meat on Fridays (which is replaced by gorging on fish) or giving up a treat like chocolate or caffeinated beverages or TV or whatever. There is nothing wrong with these practices and they may well be good aids for discipline. However, why only focus on the subtraction? Why little to no mention of what people add to Lent? The almost exclusive focus on Lent has damaged the perception of Lent almost irrevocably that many Christians see it as a gloomy time, a time that's to be endured just "to get it over with" or just avoided.

So, let's reconsider our Lenten arithmetic to focus on what we can be added. So, let's do some addition and add to our sadness a sense of joy.

1) Prayer. Abstinence is fine and fasting is too, but if it is not coupled without prayer, it is dieting. Many churches, especially the Orthodox, offer many more opportunities for prayer this season.

2) Hunger. Adding this makes us realize our dependence upon God.

3) More money. The money that we don't use in our abstaining from certain foods can add up.

4) Works of charity/alms-giving. Increasing our giving, whether in money or time form, for the sake of Christ who gave up way much more than those is following Christ's commandment to do unto the least of these.

5) Confession. If we don't routinely make confession to a priest/pastor, this is the time to get back on track.

6) Scripture readings. There's a daily lectionary. In the Orthodox communions, the lectionary on the weekdays is exclusively taken from the Old(er) Testament, particularly Genesis, Isaiah and Proverbs. This is a time to return to our Biblical roots and puts into perspective why Christ did what He did.

7) Reading the fathers. There is an abundance of materials from the church fathers on the Lenten season and much of it can be read with the daily lectionary of the Scriptures.

8) Alleluia. Well, if you're a Western Rite Orthodox or Western Christian, this will be out of the question, but in the Eastern churches, Alleluia is sung even more. It replaces the hymn "God is the Lord" at Orthros. Alleluia is seen as less joyful, but joyful none the less. Incorporate this into your prayer life during the season.

9) Incense. This may not be for everybody especially for those with asthmatic conditions or who are just not used to it, but incense was used in both Jewish worship and the rites of the ancient church and is, unfortunately, derided by some as unnecessary. In Psalm 140, we chant "Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as the incense." The incense pervades and spreads over everything and rises into the heavens. Such should be model for our prayers, whether in Lent or out of Lent. It should arise and permeate everything.

10) Read more __________. It's great to read the Scriptures and the fathers, but if that's not really your thing, just read something.

11) Spend more time with family. Our life in Christ cannot be just an individual thing. It is realized in community and sacrifice towards one another.

I've given 11 things that Christians can add to Lent for this year. This is hardly a comprehensive list so if you've more suggestions, please make them. Let our arithmetic for Lent, every Lent, be more of addition than subtraction.

Gifts and service

In my last post, I lamented that the choir at the church I attend is, unfortunately, not doing its duty as I think it should. Perhaps it is not even for me to say such a thing though it is clearly the elephant in the room. I also lamented that we have a great many people in our congregation who are gifted in some singing capacity yet will not join our choir simply because they too are frustrated with the knowledge of what goes on up in the choir loft when the choir is not singing. I posted a tract from Bishop BASIL who wrote that it is sinful (his word) for someone not to use the gift of his voice at the Liturgy.

At the same time, not everyone is gifted with a voice or an ability to make or even appreciate music. And that's OK. St. Paul tells us that we are all gifted in different areas. But too many people believe that their respective giftings should be translated to service only at the Liturgy. So, someone who is a good speaker should preach the sermon? Someone who is a polyglot should concelebrate and translate the service into other languages? Someone who is a good dancer should dance at the altar? Someone who is a gifted instrumentalist should play during the distribution? Of course, we would say no to any of such suggestions. St. Paul's listing of gifts should not be regarded as things that should be translated to the Liturgy. He is talking about our whole life in the church. And yet, it seems that there is a constant attack on the liturgy to somehow be "inclusive" of everyone and their respective gifts. If a person is a good and eloquent speaker, can not his skills be put to use outside of the liturgy? If a person is a good speaker of foreign languages, cannot his skills be used to translate the gospel for those who have never heard it? Why do people automatically assume their gifts are to be used only during Liturgy? Our life should be a spiritual one and yet we live most of our lives outside the church. Should we not employ our gifts there?

My thanks to Pr. Peters for good thoughts to inspire this little piece.