You may have noticed some changes today, or on Ash Wednesday when you came to Mass. The environment is definitely different. All of the gold that can be removed has been; all the greenery is gone. We have gone back to using a simple wooden cross and wooden candle sticks. Taking it all down a notch. Just getting simpler and down to the basics. We’re using a different form of the penitential rite that recalls very directly our sinfulness and our need for mercy. So why do we have all these changes? How about to remind us to use this time to make changes in our own lives – make it a little simpler, get back to the basics of prayer, fasting and almsgiving?
The instructions that we are given for the Lenten season come directly out of the Roman Missal (the big red book that the presider uses for Mass – this is where all the prayers are located). We are instructed:
During Lent, it is not permitted to decorate the altar with flowers, and the use of musical instruments is allowed only so as to support the singing. Nevertheless, Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts are exceptions to this rule.
There are very few times during the liturgical year where we are given such directives. Of course, as with any written ‘rules’, people can interpret them in various ways. This one is pretty cut and dry: ‘the use of musical instruments is allowed only so as to support the singing’. But still, what is needed to support the singing? Hopefully not much! All accom-paniments and solo instrumentation will be scaled back during this season of Lent to allow our voices to be heard in praise of God – and to seek Him out through our worship. Some of the Eucharistic acclamations will be sung in Latin, part of the penitential rite will be sung in Greek (Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison – yes, that’s Greek and not Latin!) – both drawing upon the long history of the Roman Catholic Church.
Cycle A of the readings for Lent are by far my most favorite ones! There are really great scripture readings this year (not that they aren’t all great, but these are really good!) We get the temptations of Jesus, His transfiguration on the mountain top, the Samaritan woman at the well, the curing of the blind man, and the raising of Lazarus. All huge lessons to learn from! “Stay tuned for next week’s episode” should be the headline at the end of each Mass!
This week we get the temptations of Jesus by the devil while out in the desert. I just love how Jesus puts the devil in his place! The offertory song reflects this Gospel passage: “Led By the Spirit”. Take a few moments to reflect on this text by Bob Hurd:
Led by the Spirit of our God, we go to fast and pray with Christ into the wilderness; we join his paschal way. “Rend not your garments, rend your hearts. Turn back your lives to me.”Thus says our kind and gracious God, whose reign in liberty.
Led by the Spirit, we confront temptation face to face, and know full well we must rely on God’s redeeming grace. On bread alone we cannot live, but, nourished by the Word
we seek the will of God to do: this is our drink and food.
Led by the Spirit, now draw near the waters of rebirth with hearts that long to worship God in spirit and in truth, “Whoever drinks the drink I give shall never thirst again.”
Thus says the Lord who died for us, our Savior, kin and friend.
Led by the Spirit, now sing praise to God the Trinity: the Source of Life, the living Word made flesh to set us free. The Spirit blowing where it will to make us friends of God:
This mystery far beyond our reach, yet near in healing love.
Allow yourself to enter into this simpler time of Lent – a simpler way to approach our entire life maybe. Take the gold out and put wood in its place. See how you can be transformed just as our church building was transformed. See how you “confront temptation” and do we “seek the will of God?”