The Lent Journal 6

Still drowsy... ah! 

So, without any energy to write down something of myself, I'll post the Address to the People of God, which was read on the Ash Wednesday service. If you read it as a scholar, you find precious historical and dogmatic information. If you read it as a Christian, it is food for your heart and soul. 

The Celebrant reads: Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. 

Silence is then kept for a time, all kneeling.

The Congregation reads: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 

The ashes are imposed with the following words:

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. 

Today's text is Luke 5: 1 - 11 (The Message): 

Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.

When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.”

Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

The Lent Journal 5

When you are fasting, one of the first things that become clear is how you make of feeble things an anchor that helps you go through the vicissitudes of life.

The same backpain that made me stop writing this blog some months ago is back. I went to the doctor and the medication prescribed makes me drownsy, I can't even think properly. It's hard to articulate my voice. And yet, nothing to make it easier. And yet, I can and will do the right thing this time, which is respect my body and let it go.

One side of my brain still screams: the right thing is the wrong thing! Try a short cut. Any short cut!!!

Here is the text for today. Luke 2: 1 - 21 (The Message). It's more than I actually pasted down. :)

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

The Lent Journal 4

After a bit of theory in the previous days, some experiential observations. 

Every Saturday I go to a wadi to hike. I cherish these few hours of Saturday morning greatly: you fell as you can flee the air pollution; it is certainly quiet (wow!) and I have endless admiration to those barren hills contrasting to the blue sky. A beauty of its kind. But the best of all is the fellowship of friends who walk together, solve the world's problems and drink coffee with brownies in the end (or chocolate chips cookies, or stroopwafels). 

Today, there was some coffee left. But a friend kindly brought tea instead. Some people are fasting from sweets. Or chocolates. The brownie container returned full. I've felt abashed by my thoughtlessness, after all, chocolate and sweets are usually first items in the list of modern fasting. Duh! 

Everybody was very supportive in general - even in the jokes, such as "we'll continue drinking coffee and eating chocolate to help you guys be stronger". Yeah, we've got the point! 

Today's text is Luke 1: 39 - 45 (The Message). Mary didn't waste a minute to be with Elizabeth! I wish you a Lent full of fellowship with your brothers and sisters too!  

Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and travelled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You’re so blessed among women,

    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

And why am I so blessed that

    the mother of my Lord visits me?

The moment the sound of your

    greeting entered my ears,

The babe in my womb

    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

Blessed woman, who believed what God said,

    believed every word would come true!

The Lent Journal 3

If you were wondering, why, with such a background, I do celebrate and am celebrating the Lent, here is the answer. No, I didn't find the Light, I haven't gotten supernatural knowledge and my life hasn't changed.

I became a Lutheran. And right now, I attend an Episcopal Church. When I made these simple decisions that organize daily life and define routines, I had no way back. If not for any other reason, Lent is part of the Easter Season, which is part of the Liturgical Year of these Churches. Thus, if you are a church going person, you will be celebrating Lent at least during the worship services (or call it masses, if you like).

But since I left an evangelical denomination, in which my former pastor told me "Easter is more a Roman Catholic thing" to one in which Lent is part of life, I'd better gather some information. I've learnt some bits of it.

• The word 'carnival' comes from the Latin "carne vale", which means "goodbye to meat" (sounds neat, I'm not sure of the veracity). The reason you would be saying your farewells, is that you wouldn't be eating meat during Lent; 
• More important though, is that the first and foremost important celebration was the celebration of Easter, which has since the days of the flight from Egypt by the Israelites, existed; 
• Then, the Early Church developed the tradition of Lent, a period which new Christians would prepare themselves, through fasting and prayer, to become part of the Church, through baptisms. This important day would happen annually on Easter Sunday, which for Christians is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  
• In both traditions (Lutheran and Episcopal), fasting is encouraged, but optional. More on this, later. 

And so, I guess I had enough reasons to celebrate Lent in all ways. =) 

Here is the text for today. Luke 1: 26 - 38 (The Message): 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!

You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,

Beautiful inside and out!

God be with you.

She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, 

“Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,

    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’

The Lord God will give him

    the throne of his father David;

He will rule Jacob’s house forever—

    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

    the power of the Highest hover over you;

Therefore, the child you bring to birth

    will be called Holy, Son of God.

“And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:

    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.

Let it be with me

    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

The Lent Journal 2

First time I've heard about Lent was at my mom's catechism - at least on my reckoning. As a child you have questions. Your parents are your unending source of wisdom and knowledge.  

Unfortunately, there was (and there aren't) Episcopal or Lutheran churches nearby to enlighten her knowledge of the Lent (since other evangelical denominations don´t work much with the Lent) and her Roman Catholic experience was (on my later analysis based on our charged theological discussions and disagreements) pretty much based on a platonic expression of popular beliefs more than on the Roman Catholic actual dogmas. 

So what I've learnt pretty much was that there was Carnival. The word carnival derived from the Portuguese word "Carne", which means "flesh", and meant the "Feast of the Flesh". Now the word "carne" also means "meat", but for popular Platonists, that is a difference you won't make. After all, meat or flesh, everything is matter, therefore very bad. 

Now, according to this teachings, the Roman Catholic Church (sometimes I think it could also be the Illuminati) created this "Feast of Flesh", so that you could have the chance of sinning however you wanted in two days (we're talking about Brazilian carnival, right?), a Monday and a Tuesday. And then, on Ash Wednesday you would repent of all your sins you committed during Carnival. And then, as a sign of your repentance, you couldn´t eat meat for 40 days (the word Lent in Portuguese is "Quaresma", which is similar to "quarenta" or forty). Finally, there would be the Easter, when you could return your meat eating habits, starting with fish - cod if you had the money. And consumerism still screwed things up even more with the idea of eating chocolate eggs. Something we would not be given, my mom would assure me. 

So, here am I celebrating Lent. If you are curious of the reason, you can read the next posts. =P 

Here is the Bible text for today. It's Luke 1: 5 - 17 (version of The Message). 

During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

“He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

The Lent Journal 1 - Ash Wednesday

Almost two years ago I published a journal on the Ramadan. The first Ramadan in my life that I would be an eyewitness. 

I've decided this time to journal the Lent. After all, Christian makes from 6 too 10% of the population (depending on the sources), and I can take part of the Lent - so now I'll be able to add a personal perspective. 

At first I thought about participating in the traditions of the Coptic Church. But I missed the beginning of their Lent, which is called Great Lent and began on February 24 =( But then, I can participate with the church I attend, which is an Episcopal Church - and that makes it less of a cultural experience, but really a life-changing experience instead, since I don't have to learn so much about the traditions or the meanings of this and that. 

Today was Ash Wednesday: the day that we begin celebrating Lent. We had a beautiful bilingual service - in English and Arabic. They made it very ease my journalling: during the Lent period, we will be reading Luke, and they gave us flyer with the readings for everyday. So, I'll post them here. 

So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught. Luke 1. 1 - 4, translation from The Message. 

Tomorrow more on Ash Wednesday. 

The Experience of the Desert 2

Yesterday we had a storm. A sand storm.

I still remember my first sand storm. Everything was orangish-yellowish. I was puzzled by the matter-of-fact tone of student who calmly pointed out to a teacher that the weather had changed and asked to close the window. It was my first week here. I thought it fascinating.

As the time passed by I realized that sand storms aren't so common as I first thought. I still have a hard time identifying them (that might partly because I'm easily distracted by my particular world that I don't realize much what is going around).

Yesterday, however, was a day that was easily recognizable though. For as soon as I went out of the school building to the playground, my lungs filled with slime reacted and I coughed until I almost got asphyxiated.

Yesterday, everything was greyish-whitish. As one who loses her sight, as one who sees life from the other side (or that's how I imagine these near death experiences).

Yesterday, I not only had dust in my hair and skin (like everyday, of course), but I smelled and tasted it. It is bland. It stinks pollution - after all this is a city with over 20 million inhabitants, a huge auto-mobile fleet and few environmental laws.

Now, the most impressive was the evening. I was not outside only for the sake of reporting to this blog. I was a teacher who stayed late in school working to grade all the necessary papers that should be on the progress reports. And I walk home from work. For 20 minutes or so.

I felt something wasn't normal. But with all that dust, and my coughing and my levels of self-pity sky reaching... A-ha! The sky. It was evening. It is winter. It should be dark. It was grey. A grey without light beyond it. Moonless grey. A star-spangled-less grey. It reminded me of Perelandra, that has round roof. Only imagine if Ransom's mission had failed - a fallen Perelandra.

It also reminded of the time in the Middle-Earth when the shadows were dominant and the hope left the heart of all. And since I am right now reading The Return of the King, it gave me a whole new insight on how it started when Mordor comes upon Gondor. It wasn´t pitch dark as in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, but still, it stroke me the speech of Ghân: "It is all dark, but it not all night".

And so it continued today.

And so here am I trying to blog again after a pause caused by acute back pains. It will be only four months until I return to Brazil and I wanted to process the experience well. Let's travel together again!