Lent #2: Tradition

These are only human

   traditions and practices (Colossians 2:2)

Lenten Season marks 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. If you count, it comes out to 46 days. That’s because you can’t count Sundays, because Sundays are always feast days; and, Lenten days tend to be fast days. You can’t fast on Sunday. It is resurrection day. It is “The Lord’s Day” (Rv 1:10).

We might do well to recall that “these are only human traditions.” Jesus often gets in trouble for “transgressing the traditions of the elders.” “Therefore,” insist the Apostle, “don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow; but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col 2:16-19). That means, we are free to participate in the Lenten tradition as we see fit. Such traditions are something like the clothes we choose to wear. The clothes we wear aren’t us; but, what we wear says something about us. So, allow the Lenten tradition to be worn in a way that best suits you—you as you (Ro 14:6).

The Lenten “shadow” can lead us again to the breathtaking “substance” of the Son of God who entered into and participated fully in our human suffering—our pathos. As for how we practice the tradition… I’ve never entertained the thought of fasting for forty days—maybe a day or two. I’ve departed a few Ash Wednesday services with an ashen cross smudge on my forehead, but I’ve never conducted such a service. When it comes to what we deny ourselves; or, in what way we seek to participate in the sufferings of Christ; it is best we keep it to ourselves. Don’t make a big deal about it. That’s what our Lord taught us that day on the mountain: “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Mt 6:3). That’s Jesus’ parabolic way of saying, “Don’t make a big deal about your piety.”