Thursday, March 11, 2010
Lent Liturgy
Well I think we've done enough on personal discipline during Lent! What about corporate discipline - our worship. During Lent we have simplified our church and liturgy - no flowers, no Paschal candle, no Gloria, fewer hymns, silent procession, no music during communion. This "stripping down" of the liturgy is often described using words like "austere". To me this sounds severe, almost as if we are punishing or depriving ourselves so we can enjoy Easter more! There is probably a valid sense in this but I prefer to think of it differently. When you are with someone who is suffering, perhaps dying, there is not a whole lot you can say. Often the best way to minister to that person is to be present, sit with them, in silence. When we consider the great mystery of Jesus' incarnation, suffering, and death what can we say that makes any sense? An awe-struck silence seems to me a highly appropriate response. That's the "feeling" I like to take into our Lent liturgy - what do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I had to think about this topic! I think that there is this hope and faith that we have during Lent. Hope that (as we are on this journey in Lent) Jesus is the Messiah that God had prophesied and that the people have been hoping for. Faith that Jesus can fulfill God's prophecy and the faith in what is not seen/heard/felt.
ReplyDeleteWe are not 'suffering' as we may think. It may seem like that because we are the people who know of the risen Christ and follow Him. We are re-tracing the footsteps of this man Jesus who came to earth as God's son, as it has been prophesied from God in the Old Testament. We journey with Jesus through his words in the Gospels during this time...awaiting to see if this man can bring forgiveness and eternal life to all people on earth.
God bless
Stanley
This may not seem relevant to the topic but pleae bear with me as I try to explain my thinkings.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago, Stuart suggested that we make the time after church - our morning tea time - a time of no busy-ness. Personally I found/find this very very hard as that was/is often the only time that I had to catch people. And it still often is... but I have found myself the last few weeks just badly wanting that "not busy" time.. just wanting to chat and relate to people, not organise/arrange/nag and everything else.
And I think thats what Lent is or can be if you allow it. A time of simplicity, to refocus on the big issue... the people and/or the relationship. So the "austerity" that you refer to Stuart, is just removing the busyness, allowing Christ to be the centre... where He should be.
Huggs and prayers always
Sarah
Thank you both - thoughtful comments. Anyone else got something to add?
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I have noticed the most from the corporate discipline perspective is the colour purple. Purple is an odd colour from a clothes perspective (for a male anyway) but I was touched by peoples discipline to wear the seasonal colour to match the priestly garb and altar cloths. It made me also think of the movie "The colour purple" which is a very deep movie about suffering of many types.
ReplyDelete