The Grain of Wheat: A Lenten Journey

When the early Christians gathered, they worshiped on Sunday, the Lord's Day, the eighth day, day of new creation (7, the number of completion, plus 1, for new creation), because on that day Christ was raised from the dead. Every Sunday was a celebration of Easter. As the church year developed over the next centuries, incorporating agricultural feasts, pre-existing Jewish and Roman festivals, and the natural seasons of the northern hemisphere, Easter or Pascha was the first festival to have a place in the calendar as a separate yearly Christian observance, perhaps as early as the second century. Quite naturally, this Paschal feast was soon preceded by a period of preparation and fasting - first, a day, then six days, and, at one time, 70 days (!).

The English word "Lent" comes from"lenct", the same root as "Lenz", the German word for spring, as well as our word "lengthen", and it refers to the lengthening of daylight as spring approaches. All life on earth depends on the sun, and the lengthening days of spring bring hope and gladness to all who are weary of winter, longing for light.

In this devotional we will reflect on the readings for each week and explore some of the traditional symbols, rites and practices of Lent that have been developed and distilled over the centuries. The movement of each week is from Wednesday to Tuesday, based on the pericopes for the surrounded Sunday. Thus: Wednesday - a Lenten practice; Thursday - Old Testament reading from the coming Sunday; Friday - psalm antiphon; Saturday - epistle reading; Sunday - the Gospel acclamation and a hymn; Monday - the Gospel from the previous day; Tuesday - poetry. May our lives in Christ be strengthened and deepened by our Lenten journey together.

+ Fasting for the good of the body + Prayer for the good of the soul +

+ Acts of compassion for the good of the neighbor +