Lent, Cake and Roses
Why you should not channel your inner Scrooge during Lent
Lighten up, lamenting lentil-ladelling Lenters! Laetare Sunday is coming!
Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, is a day of joy and relaxation enjoyed in England since the 12thcentury. Named after the Latin introit which began "Laetare Jerusalem" meaning "Rejoice, O Jerusalem," it was also known also as Refreshment Sunday. It is a bright spot in the penitential season. The priest might even wear rose-coloured vestments, so it was also known as “Rose Sunday.” Flowers could be placed on the altar. You might even be able to persuade that priest to let you get married on this day, which would not be permitted during the rest of Lent.
Over the years, this Sunday became associated with mothers, morphing into what we now call Mothering Sunday. Mother churches were visited by outlying parishes and then, more recently, servants went back to their homes to visit their mothers. (I wrote about that last year).
Like all Christian festivals or special days, buns or cakes are involved. Simnel cakes, now associated with Easter, were baked for this day and, latterly, given to mothers. This is because the gospel reading for Laetare Sunday was traditionally Jesus feeding the 5000. This goes back to our original theme of joy and respite from fasting. Jesus’s abundant provision in that miracle is remembered and celebrated in the middle of the season of penitent self-denial.
How Not To Fast
This teaches us something about fasting. How we fast, if that is what we do, is as important as the fasting itself. For some, fasting is a spiritual discipline they relish because, frankly, the idea of abundance and joy is already too much to bear. Many Christians traditions – especially those that claim to have no traditions – prize the plain and simple. There is something healthy about this. After all, one of my favourite verses in scripture is 1 Timothy 6:8:
“If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
But this desire for ‘no frills’ simplicity can easily teeter over into the dour and joyless. This is, I think, the besetting sin of Ebeneezer Scrooge. He amasses wealth, but he lives a meagre and joyless existence. Anyone who needs the comforts of life is, in his opinion, weak. Let us not allow Lent to unleash our inner Scrooge. Laetare Sunday reminds us that Christ is bountiful in his provision. He longs to give us good things, and one day we will celebrate with him at the great banquet.
Welcome to the Other Ditch
On the other side of the road is another ditch into which we might fall. And we might need pulling out of it, even on a Sunday. (If it’s Laetare Sunday, you might be on your way to church to get married!) This ditch is what has come to be known as virtue signalling. Jesus goes out of his way to mock and belittle such people. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus says:
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (ESV)
I wonder if Jesus, when saying these words, impersonated the Pharisees by contorting his face in hungry agony. It’s not hard to imagine (for me, anyway). The words are, however, chilling. Those who seek to impress others will get what they have asked for. “They have received their reward in full.” There are no other benefits for their fasting. Spiritually, they achieve nothing.
This is a shot across our bows if we think we are doing something for the Lord, and we make sure everyone else has seen it, we are no longer doing it for the Lord but everyone one else. And ourselves. If we do it for the Lord, he sees. He knows. Is that not enough? If we’re honest with ourselves, it isn’t.
Even Jesus, the one worthy of honour and praise, does good works in secret. When he feeds the five thousand, he does not do so in a showy way. He could have levitated a hundred feet into the air, clapped his hands and made it rain bread. And butter. And brioche for pudding. He did not do that.
Palm Sunday is coming when we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He could have transmuted that donkey into a white charger or even a giant unicorn. He did not do that. He clip-clopped into town on a donkey, fulfilling the words of Zechariah 9 that will come to in a few weeks.
So we can rejoice on Laetare Sunday. Eat, drink and be merry! We do not need to earn the approval of our friends, neighbours or fellow Christians. Likewise, we need not fear their judgment. If they judge your virtue based on appearance, that’s on them. Jesus doesn’t. He sees. He knows. He’s been there. He was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. Don’t try to be holier than Jesus. (They were the people that had him killed)
Have a great Laetare Sunday. Enjoy it!
God, the Bible and Everything (in 60 Minutes) continues
This weekend sees me heading up to Newcastle for a performance of my new stand-up theology show. Last time I was at Christ Church Newcastle (with Water into Wine), I had a cracking time. Clearly the audience did too, as they’ve asked me back.
I’ve started sending out emails to churches that have had my productions before, offering dates in the summer and autumn. The Saturdays are getting booked up fast, so if you want to book me for one of those, you’ll need to get in touch with me. Reply to this email, or contact me via my website. And if you head over there, you’ll see more dates have been added to the tour.