Should Christians celebrate Lent? (tradition, church, scripture, Jesus)
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Wow, things are so different from when I was a kid. Lutherans have long done all of the above but the imposition of ashes (too Catholic), but now we do that, too. I don't remember the Presbyterians in my hometown doing any of the above. It's neat so many churches are doing the ashes and recognizing Lent now.
Our pastor talked about that at the noon service today. You're not supposed to go around displaying your ashes in a boastful way. I haven't been anywhere since church, probably won't go farther than my mailbox to pick up the mail.
I believe it's standard in the Presbyterian Church (USA branch) now. We attend Montview Presbyterian in Denver and it's quite traditional in its liturgy. Probably very similar to Lutheran churches, plus a lot of similarities with Catholic Mass.
Interesting about imposition outside church. We're going to church tonight. We have a half hour of silent prayer in candelight, then the service with communion and imposition of ashes. It's very solumn and dark.
I believe it's standard in the Presbyterian Church (USA branch) now. We attend Montview Presbyterian in Denver and it's quite traditional in its liturgy. Probably very similar to Lutheran churches, plus a lot of similarities with Catholic Mass.
Interesting about imposition outside church. We're going to church tonight. We have a half hour of silent prayer in candelight, then the service with communion and imposition of ashes. It's very solumn and dark.
Sounds very moving. There were a lot of Reformed Presbyterians in my hometown; maybe that's the difference.
Wow, things are so different from when I was a kid. Lutherans have long done all of the above but the imposition of ashes (too Catholic), but now we do that, too. I don't remember the Presbyterians in my hometown doing any of the above. It's neat so many churches are doing the ashes and recognizing Lent now.
Our pastor talked about that at the noon service today. You're not supposed to go around displaying your ashes in a boastful way. I haven't been anywhere since church, probably won't go farther than my mailbox to pick up the mail.
I agree about walking around with ashes. It's kind of like boasting about your spirituality.
I don't think it's boasting. Most Catholics I know feel kind of awkward about it, especially since we often get questions or comments. It's one of those many things in faith - you don't want to hide your faith as if it's something shameful but you don't want your expression of it to seem like boasting, especially since we are called not to be boastful. But if your example leads others to see the faith as acceptable or admirable, that would be a form of witnessing or evangelization, which we are also called to do. It's a fine line to walk.
If they want to. I don't care for the ash Wednesday display of ashes on the forehead because humility and godly sorrow are a matter of the heart and not a public display. But maybe that helps some people - I should not judge them really. I love the whole season of spring and Pass Over or Easter. Spring bespeaks the mystery of the resurrection from death.
The gospel read for the Ash Wednesday service tonight was the one wherein Christ says that if you are fasting not to put your suffering on public display but keep it between yourself and God. So after the priest read it, he gave a little history of Ash Wednesday and said, "And Jesus told us not to make a public display of our piety but here we are putting ashes on our heads." He shrugged and laughed and reiterated that the ashes don't matter. It's a time for being aware of our shortcoming and resolving to live better lives.
The gospel read for the Ash Wednesday service tonight was the one wherein Christ says that if you are fasting not to put your suffering on public display but keep it between yourself and God. So after the priest read it, he gave a little history of Ash Wednesday and said, "And Jesus told us not to make a public display of our piety but here we are putting ashes on our heads." He shrugged and laughed and reiterated that the ashes don't matter. It's a time for being aware of our shortcoming and resolving to live better lives.
We had the same reading, and our pastor said we weren't supposed to go out and show off our ashes, but wear them as a sign of humility. I came home and never went outside the rest of the afternoon (I went at noon) except to get the mail. She also said we shouldn't give up ice cream for Lent just to lose weight!
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