Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting - one full meal and one light snack, both meatless - in the Anglican Church. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 17, tells us Ash Wednesday and other weekdays of Lent and Holy Week, Good Friday and all other Fridays (except Fridays in the Christmas and Easter seasons) are to be observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial - and traditionally meatless. Sundays are an exception because the are celebrations of our Lord's resurrection. My husband and I limit our diet to soup and salad during Lent - meatless according to what is outlined in the BCP.
In a wonderful book, To God Be the Glory, Growing Towards a Healthy Church by the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman and Mrs. Joann Ackerman, we learn how to live out the implications of the guidelines set in the BCP - additional attendance at mass and other Anglican liturgies, Morning and Evening Prayer, attend a Lenten series at church and/or participate in a Bible study. It is common for Christians to give up something for Lent, but much harder to add something in the form of self-discipline to our already busy lives. How about adding an additional obligation of study, prayer and/or service and give up what is frivolous and unnecessary?
The spirit of fasting is related more to freeing ourselves from outside control, distractions and temptations which separate us from God. Can we let go of that which controls us and give ourselves over to freedom found in a closer walk with the Lord as a child of God? A freedom which allows us to serve Him - to shape God's kingdom on earth.
My children will pick something to give up something important to them this Lenten season - a favorite food, an electronic form of entertainment (TV, Nintendo DS etc.) and it will be hard for them. We will talk about why it was hard when it becomes difficult...and we will talk about how (un)important these things really are.
So how do we go about fasting as serious, mature Christians? It is very easy for me to give up chocolate for Lent. It isn't something I eat frequently, nor do I crave it. I could give up television but I don't watch it. Both would trivialize Lent and do nothing for my spiritual growth or the desired closeness I seek with the Lord on this earthly journey.
Mmmm....what will it be this year?
2 comments:
Thanks for posting about the Anglican Church. I've enjoyed learning more about it.
Marilyn - thanks for taking the time to learn about it! I think when we learn about the different ways denominations worship we grow as the Body of Christ. I would love to hear more about how you worship on your blog!
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