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Every year, several of the churches in our town gather
together for joint worship services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good
Friday. We also share an Easter Sunrise service on a mountaintop at a
nearby camp. Although I always enjoy sharing worship all these local
congregations and my clergy friends, the special Lenten worship services have
always maintained an understandably serious, contemplative tone.
It was somewhat surprising, then, to hear one of my clergy
colleagues greeting departing worshippers by exclaiming, "Happy
Lent!" Now we always greet
each other by saying "Merry Christmas!" at Christmas and "Happy
Easter!" at Easter." But is
there a normal greeting for the beginning of Lent? I don't really remember ever having heard
one. And, in all events, Lent is
generally so...well, serious. People use the time for preparation,
contemplation and repentance, for trying to undertake new spiritual
disciplines. It's often a time for
fasting, or at least for giving up chocolate.
Happy? It sounded strange to the
ear.
But on further reflection, I could not think of a better
sentiment. When we recognize bad characteristics
in our personalities, we are embarrassed and frustrated. Why have we not been able to change? This season is an opportunity to abandon
self-indulgence and self-destructive behaviors, and to start over. We are reminded at Lent that Christ offers us
new life, an abundant life that can be free from all of that baggage, guilt and
self-loathing we have been carrying. We
do not have to look in the mirror in despair. We can be free! That should be a cause for celebration!
