Ash Wednesday

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of lent. We’re entering a 40 day season of reflection, fasting, and penitence, beginning our long journey towards Easter.

I love this time, but I’m not sure I can explain why. Before I fell in love with liturgy, I enjoyed Easter. It was an important holiday, but it was a bit out of the blue – easy to miss, quickly over, easy come, easy go. Not anymore.

We’ll spend the next 40 days reflecting on the fact that we came from dust, and to dust we will return. Reflecting on our weakness, our brokenness, our need. Yet never losing sight of the hope that we have in Christ, the good news.

This season is tangibly felt. We stop the weekly singing of “the Gloria,” “the Alleluia” and most other joyful songs. The words “Alleluia” and the bright banner colors conspicuously disappear from the liturgy (or maybe better said – conspicuously appear -- inevitably, a handful of people will forget to skip over this part, and an awkward smattering of “allelu...” can be heard at almost every service :)). Together we are walking through a barren land, but walking towards life. And personally we are on a journey as well, with our own thoughts, reflections, and decisions during this season.

And all this culminates, 40 days later, in Good Friday – the ultimate day of sorrow, suffering, and death. Experiencing this, not just for an hour or two, but tangibly for 40 days is a powerful experience. And what a tremendous, remarkable joy it is at the Easter Vigil, and on Easter morning, when the shackles are lifted, and we dance rejoicing to "the Gloria" once again.

In a society where we have done our best to rid ourselves of all struggle, discipline, and delayed gratification, while retaining as much pleasure and comfort as possible, this Lenten season stands in sharp contrast. Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, will be all the more a celebration because we have struggled towards it, because we have taken the time to reflect on what life would be without it, and the price that it cost.