<> Ask the Pastor Rev. Walter Snyder Signs of spring are all around us. In the past week alone, I've probably seen nearly a hundred robins and more than double that number of bass boats. Both are sure indicators of seasonal change here in Deep East Texas. And while the world's calendar shows more than a month until spring officially begins, the Christian Church's calendar marks spring's first day as being this coming Wednesday. How is this? What brings spring on the twenty-first of February? In the calendar of the Church, the forty week days (Sundays not included) before Easter are known as *Lent*. This word comes from Germanic and Old English roots. Literally, it means "long day," a recognition of winter's close and the sun's warmth returning. By counting the days backward from Easter (this year, 7 April), we arrive at Wednesday 21 February. What's so special about Lent? Easter! The Church's highest holiday has been given the longest preparation time. Yet how we treat the season varies among church bodies and individual believers. Those who do not observe a formal church calendar treat the time of Lent as they do any other part of the year. For those who keep the traditional times and seasons, Lent is generally thought of as a time of individual and corporate penance, reflection, or instruction. Whatever the specifics, Lent serves the general purpose of leading the Church out of the celebration of the Word becoming Flesh at Christmas and the spread of the Light of the World during the Epiphany season. It sharpens our focus on the specifics of Jesus' words and deeds as He takes away the sins of the world. It is the path that leads each year "up to Jerusalem" with Jesus. There, "He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of Him and insult Him, spit on Him, whip Him, and kill Him. (Luke 18:31-33)" During the early days of the Church, various schedules were followed each year as believers began to make ready for Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection. Finally, forty days, commemorating the 40 days of Christ's fasting and being tempted in the Wilderness, was settled on. These days also can remind us of our "pilgrim" status here on earth, just as Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years prior to entry into the Promised Land. They also call to mind divine judgment, as in the rain that fell for 40 days and 40 nights in the time of Noah. Yet over all, they should remind us that God sustains and strengthens His people, since He fed and preserved His people in the wilderness, protected Noah's family and representative creatures in the Ark, and strengthened His Son to resist the tempter's power during His fast. Many Christians still observe some form of fasting during all or part of Lent. They may give up some pleasurable activity for this time, or may take on an added responsibility. All of these can be God-pleasing if done to honor Him and to heighten awareness of all He has done for us. Error creeps in if we think that God is forcing us to do something in order to please Him, to gain forgiveness, or to pay Him back. Through Christ, God is already pleased with us, has already forgiven us, and can never be repaid for all His lovingkindness. The first day of Lent is known as *Ash Wednesday*. This comes from the ancient custom of rubbing oneself in ashes during a fast or period of penance as a sign of humility and sorrow. Normally, the ashes are placed on the foreheads of believers in the sign of the cross. This reminds us that in baptism, our sins were taken away and crucified with Christ, that our wicked former selves have been put to death, and that we now belong to our Savior. The ashes also remind us that we still daily sin and that all our grand and glorious deeds are nothing in God's sight. This is especially illustrated when the ashes are taken from the burning of the previous year's branches used on Palm Sunday. The praises of the people, their "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord," have fallen silent and are consigned to the burn pile of good intentions not followed through. Yet springtime still breaks in human hearts. We who cannot or will not always walk with Jesus have in Him a Savior and Friend who continues to draw us closer, who walks with us, and who carries us through the worst times of life, even as He carried His cross and our sins to Calvary. The "long days" are with us. The Light shines in our hearts and lives, and we are warmed and encouraged to grow by Him. Next week, we get back to your questions. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; e-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1996 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.