Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls this year on March 5th. It is the season of special fasting and spiritual observance for Christians, as they prepare for Easter. But compared with the holy month of Ramadan, observed by our Muslim neighbours, and which regularly attracts considerable attention from the media, Lent seems to have fallen into a slough of boredom and disuse. Perhaps it has something to do with the triviality of so much of people's Lenten discipline, which doesn't extend beyond 'giving something up for Lent'. Often this turns out to be chocolate or some other inconsequential thing, so that the whole affair is reduced to little more than a weightwatching fad embraced by the over-indulgent members of a materialist culture.
But if we did Lent properly, it would be far more serious than this, and even more serious than Ramadan. For although to keep Ramadan requires a most rigorous fast during the hours of daylight, this is often accompanied by the taking of a meal before sunrise, and in some cases by feasting after sunset which continues well into the night. It is by no means a light thing to go without all food and drink during the day ? especially in hot climates ? but still it is not quite the same as the original model for the Lenten fast, which was Jesus' going without food for forty days in the wilderness, while tempted by Satan.
How can we recapture the vision of Lent, so that it might bear the spiritual fruit in our lives that it was meant to? The first problem we face is that, while Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and therefore a duty incumbent on all Muslims, a Lenten fast is optional for Christians. Like so many other aspects of our religious practice, it is not compulsory, but something we are free to choose or not to choose, according to conscience. This, however, should make it more rather than less well observed, because if we do it at all, it will be because we love God and want to do it, rather than because we feel driven by the need to please some divine (or worse still, ecclesiastical) authority figure.
Let's think for a moment about how we can use this complete freedom we
enjoy, to keep a good Lent. There are two chief aspects we could think
about:
Something to give up
Something to take up
What would you give up? The point of giving something up, is to show ourselves and God that we know we are really and fundamentally free. We are not slaves to material needs, whether for food or anything else, but we have the power and self-discipline to live as free people, and to devote that freedom to God. So whatever we give up, should be something really significant, something that we are in serious danger of being enslaved by. What about giving up: using your car; watching TV; shopping at the supermarket; going shopping just as a pastime; or any of the habits which lie at the heart of our consumer lifestyle? Oh yes, and in addition to these big things, we could give up a meal on one or more days each week, and give the money we save to some good cause. We could give up those harmful habits of mind, like finding fault with others, grumbling, being fearful of strangers and people who aren't like us. You can probably think of other ideas.
And what would you take up? Again, we can learn from the practice of Ramadan, which is traditionally an occasion for both family get-togethers and religious reflection. Why not give extra time in Lent to spending quality time with the family, as well as extra time to silent prayer and reflection? It is also considered especially meritorious in Ramadan to recite the whole of the Holy Quran during the sacred month. So, why not recite, or even just read, the New Testament? It can easily be done in forty days, at just half an hour a day. If not the New Testament, then some other spiritual reading: there are always more than enough new Lent books to choose from each year, though in most cases I think we'd be better off re-reading one of the classics of the Christian tradition. Finally, Lent could also be a time of taking up some act of service like voluntary work, helping a neighbour, just going out of your way to smile and be pleasant to people we meet during the course of the day.
Whatever you decide to give up or take up, however you choose to observe the season of Lent, may it be a time of real blessing and freedom for you, a time that brings you nearer to the heart of God's love and purposes for you.
Published in the Marston Times, March 2003