The Holy Church had recently entered into another season in the Church’s liturgical calendar, the Lenten season. We officially started this season when we celebrated the Ash Wednesday in which we were reminded by the Church that we came from dust, and to dust we shall return. It also reminded us to repent and to believe in the Gospel. Lenten Season is not the highlight of the church’s liturgical calendar rather it is just a preparation for an event which is the most important, the Easter Triduum.
As the Early Christians celebrated the Easter annually, time passed by and they came with another season, Lent. Lent is a season a period of forty days in preparation for the Celebration of Paschal Triduum. It begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts up to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
In addition, towards the end of 3rd century there was a trend to extend this fasting period, and the fourth century we have so many testimonies about fasting for 40 days. Number 40 is associated with the scriptures connected with an event of the history of salvation. The Gentile Christian Communities referred in a special way to the example of Christ who fasted in the desert for forty-days and forty nights. While the Judeo-Christians communities liked to look back also to the Old Testament.
a. Gen. 7,12, 17 : Noah and the Flood
b. Exodus 16, 35: The Journey to Promise Land
c. Exodus 24, 18: Moses on Mount Sinai.
d. Numbers 13,25 : The Spies sent out by Moses
e. 1 Samuel 17, 26: Battle of David and Goliath.
f. 1 Kings 19,8: Elijah on the way to Horeb
g. Jonah 3,5: A grace period of forty days for Nineveh.
h. Matthew 4,1-11 or Luke 4, 1-13: Jesus tempted by the devil.
Hence, The Lenten Season is a season of fasting and prayer. For Christ has given us the manifestation of sorrow by fasting. That is why it is no surprise that the Christians, commemorating the taking away of their bridegroom, observed a rigorous fasting in preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Feast. It is based on the Holy Scriptures where in Christ said that “can the wedding guests fasts while the bridegroom is with them? As long as the bridegroom is with them, they cant fast. The days will come, when the Bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Mk. 2,19). Jesus is referring to his death and resurrection. Death will cause Him to be taken away from us while the Resurrection will bring us the glory to be with Him.
Moreover, Lent is , therefore, first of all a baptismal season during which the baptized recall their baptism, and realizing that we are all lacking in our baptismal commitment, we are led to penance. So For those who are preparing for baptism, The Catechumens, the Lenten Season is a time of final preparation for the baptismal night on Easter.
The Church is indeed telling us to observe this season in accordance to its very context, for nowadays, many Catholic Christians no longer observe this season as a season for repentance. They merely observe this as an ordinary season which is not supposed to be.
The very essence of observing this season is indeed for holiness, it is for our own benefits and merits. If many Christians will look at this season as a season for preparation, they will surely appreciate it. And they will more appreciate the value of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To end this, I am inviting all of you to invite other people to observe the Lenten Season in its very own context. Let us call to mind all our sins and misdoings before the Lord so that we may be worthy to celebrate the triumph of Jesus Christ in the Cross, the Resurrection.
God Bless you all!
by: Kim Jayson G Villezca
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