Sermon delivered on the first Sunday of Lent, February 17, 2013, at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Columbus, OH.

Lectionary texts: Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Psalm 91.1-2, 9-16; Romans 10.8b-13; Luke 4.1-13.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This day we call the first Sunday of Lent, but what is Lent and where did it come from and why do we still follow Lenten Practices today.

The term Lent originally mean no more that the spring season – hard to believe when Easter and Lent fall so early in the year. The word itself derives from the Germanic languages and was later incorporated into the English where it was used to translate the Latin term Quadragesima meaning “forty days” Some early Fathers of the Church claimed that the practice of Lent was from of Apostolic Times. After all Christ had said in response to the Pharisees that his disciples would not be expected to fast while he was physically with them, but that a time would come when after he was gone that then his disciples would then fast. However, modern scholarship and research, rejects this view, rather, they find that for the first three centuries that there was both considerable diversity of practice regarding the fast before Easter and the length of its duration. An early teacher, Irenaeus, now recognized as a Saint, states that “some think that they ought to fast for one day, others for two days, and others seven, while others reckon forty hours both of day and night to their fast”

Prior to the year 190 , there was little if any Easter fast lasting forty days Prior to the Council of Nicea, there is no evidence of any extended fast. Some of this may be made more understandable in that the Church in the Apostolic Times saw the commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, not as an annual event, but the focus of the weekly Sunday Eucharist. With this being the case, the primary fast day fell to Friday as a reflection on the Death of Christ. Slowly and for a variety of reason, there developed an annually celebrated Sunday set aside to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, but even then the fast connected with this celebration was normally not more than a week long, but it was a very strict fast.

By year 331, the practice of a Forty Day Season of Fast was beginning to take hold. This did not mean that every day was a fast day, but rather that during this season, days and weeks would be set aside for fasting. The fasts varied dramatically. In some cases, they were day long with only one meal takes at night, others prohibited certain foods like meat and fish or dairy. In other cases, the fasts lasted only a couple of days, but were complete fasts from all food. In Rome, in the Fifth Century, Lent last six week, but with only three weeks of actual fasting and these seemed to have been attached times when the fasting of the whole community was shared with the fasting that was being done with the candidates for Baptism which would be received at the Easter Vigil.

Why forty days. Forty was a number of special significance. Moses spent forty years as a shepherd before being called to lead his people from bondage and the Chosen People of Israel had to wander the desert for forty years, Elijah the prophet spent forty days and nights walking to Mt. Horeb where he encountered God in a whisper and was empowered to complete his prophetic task and looking to the today’s Gospel Jesus spends forty days in the desert preparing himself before beginning his public ministry.

In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we are introduced to the concept that a portion of the first fruits of the harvest should be given to our God. This concept gives rise to the practice of giving a tithe or 1/10 to the Lord. One early bishop in addressing the length of the Lenten season pointed out that this “Spring Fast” represented approximate 10% of the year thus Lent was an appropriate offering that we might make to the Lord.

By the Middle Ages, the Lenten fast had been reduced to the taking of only one meal a day and this meal being after sundown. Slowly some Church leaders imposed more and more restrictions on the type of food that may be eaten at the meal, but with this stricter fast, came exceptions and dispensations, while, meat, eggs and butter might be forbidden, a dispensation from the rule, could be made for a contribution to some pious work. Many a German church owes its existence to the love of butter by the church faithful. From this the ancient practice of alms giving was renewed in the life of the Church.

As we come to these modern times, the practice of Lenten fast or discipline varies greatly from one denomination to another. Some Churches of the East still practice a strong physical fast where believers are expected to on one day not to eat meat, one day not to have dairy products, one day not to eat until after dark and then only one meal. Some Protestant Churches do not have any Lenten Practices though most encourage some type of Lenten Discipline. In the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches specific days or times are set aside for a formal fast.

Fasting from Food in some form can be a meaningful and effective way for the believer to discipline his or her life in preparation for the celebration of Easter but perhaps more importantly to develop the discipline which allows them to withstand those things in life which without such discipline would weaken or perhaps even break their faith. The Church, however, understands that there are other ways in which we can strengthen ourselves. So it is during this season of Lent, that we are encouraged to spend more time in prayer and meditation for it is in such that we can open ourselves to the presence of God, an openness that can transform our lives if we are willing.

When Jesus spent his 40 days in the desert, he was following a spiritual practice not uncommon to his time. The individual went into a secluded place, away from society, to spend time in prayer and study. The self-denial practiced whether from food or other creature comforts was secondary to the search for a deeper relationship with God.

We are encouraged during this time to spend time in the study of our faith. First and foremost this involves reading and learning about the scriptures. Supporting this are many good books and educational programs. Here at St. Augustine’s we are conducting two such studies.

In the early church it was called alms giving – the providing of funds for works of faith and charity. Today we have one example of alms giving in the collection taken for Above and Beyond. There are may good causes that can use financial support and it during this season we have chosen to deny ourselves some pleasure with its accompanying costs perhaps some portion of that money saved can be used for that purpose. In today economy there are many who cannot give financially in any significant manner, but we all have a more valuable asset than money and that is our time. Consider, if you will, the possibility that your alms giving may consist of giving of your time to support some worthwhile cause or to visit some neighbor who you known as little or no contact with others or visiting a retirement or nursing home.

Why does the Church embrace the concept of Lent? Because as much as we would prefer not to deny or discipline ourselves we need to do so. Why keep Lent at 40 days: Modern science has shown that when we change a life pattern for approximately 30 days of longer, we have a greater likelihood that the change will be long lasting or permanent. Why? Because Jesus set the example. He prepared himself with fasting and prayer and being so prepared gave himself to the World and to us that we might follow Him. That being prepared Jesus was able to change lives and that being prepared we might do the same. That being prepared Jesus was able to withstand the strongest of temptations and thus win for us salvation. That being prepared we might be able to withstand the temptations that come to us that we might make his saving act known to others.

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.