The Discipline of Lent

By Rev. Raymond Coffey

March 2007

In a recent article in the journal First Things, Edward Oakes interacts with the work of John Henry Newman, particularly his writings that would prepare believers for the Lenten season. In commenting on one of his sermons entitled “The Sins of Infirmity,” Oakes writes, “Is there any Christian who starts by taking Lent seriously on Ash Wednesday and comes to Easter Sunday who does not feel bloodied by the contest, caught up in the ganglia of sin coiling around the soul? But for Newman that is just the point. For it is the struggle itself that teaches us how we stand before God. Reliance on grace is taught in the pedagogy of the struggle, and Lent is that pedagogue.”

What was most intriguing to me was the phrase “taking Lent seriously.”  What does it mean to take Lent seriously? For those of us who did not grow up with the tradition of Lent, the very idea of taking something seriously that we do not even really observe seems somewhat misguided. Often the question revolves around the matter of why we would observe Lent rather than how we observe it. And if we do not historically observe it, then why should we take it seriously at all?  The subject of Lent is usually associated with some of the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church. Because we are aware of those abuses we may think that we need to avoid the entire idea rather than keep it in our church calendar and spiritual life. And yet to do so would be detrimental to us as a community. A fresh understanding of the significance of Lent and how we should mark it is critical for us in our life together.

The 40 days of Lent are most significant in our understanding of this period. Throughout Scripture the period of 40 days signals a time of preparation. The flood occurred for 40 days, Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. In each of these instances the 40 days served as a time preparation in the midst of judgment or testing. So Lent serves as a time of preparation in remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ. This period is characterized by attentiveness, discipline and self-denial as we focus on the events associated with Holy Week.

It is just at this point that the Lenten observance is important for us. There is no command in Scripture for setting aside a period of Lent. But there are commands for self-denial, spiritual formation and discipline in our lives. The church has historically set aside this time frame in order that we might give ourselves to these disciplines in a focused manner. And they are associated with the Scriptural pattern of preparation, particularly in this case of remembering the death of Jesus Christ. Now some might say that we can do this at anytime during the year. And of course they would be right. But the church as a body, both locally and universally, gives concentrated attention to the redemptive work of Christ in his death and resurrection. And if we are to do so, then preparation is needed for a proper understanding of the meaning of these events. Failure to prepare will result in a failure to grasp the full scope of Christ’s ministry and death.

The church has understood the necessity of preparation and has set aside this period for our growth in knowledge and in maturity. While this is true in a general sense, it is especially critical that we utilize together the resources provided for us at this time. It is a very powerful event for the church together to observe certain patterns and rhythms of the liturgical calendar. It moves us beyond the “individualism” that has come to characterize the western church and develops a greater sense of community within the body. When we together follow the disciplines of reading Scripture, particularly those associated with the passion of Christ, of prayer and fasting, of self-denial and of works of mercy, it results in a shared understanding of what it means to follow the way of Christ as a church and not just as individuals.

The Lenten season can be a fruitful time of learning, of growing and of commitment. As we prepare ourselves we are deepened and expanded in our knowledge of Scripture and our experience of spiritual discipline. This produces growth in our lives as individuals, as families and as a congregation. I pray that we will utilize the means available to us in order that we may be continually be formed in the image of Christ and that we may be an instrument of grace and blessing to others. I want to encourage you to read the Scriptures selected for us, to pray, using both the prayers prepared for us in worship as well as engaging in personal and intercessory prayer for others, and to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ in every area of life. Lent will have then served us as a pedagogue, a teacher who has led us into a greater understanding and experience of God’s purpose for our lives.