I sit here penning this national reflection on the first day of Lent ‘26.
The Forty Days, or Quadragesima, have marked one of the most intense periods of fasting, study and reflection in the Church since the fourth century. Originally this time was set aside for catechumens prior to their baptism, but it also engaged the whole community in preparation for Holy Week.
There is something disarmingly beautiful about the posture of lent.
First, the lean is into simplicity. Over the history of the Church artwork has been veiled with simple, unbleached linen. Ornate processional crosses were at times exchanged for ones that were plain and wooden, a practice that dates back to the Medieval times. Although the most common color for lent is penitential purple, some communities opt for what is called the Sarum “Lenten Array” of unbleached linen and deep red vestments.
Given all the excess that is being exposed in the Church in these times taking a deep breath of simplicity is probably a good thing. A good moment to ascertain and assess where our worship spaces have become platform and performance driven and discover some ways to call our communities back to the heart and posture of simplicity.
Another lean is that of penitence. Some Church traditions have emphasized confession during this season by focusing on the Penitential Order and teaching and reflecting on God’s forgiveness and sustaining grace. A liturgical prayer often used in the Anglican tradition during lent is the Prayer of Humble Access – “we do not presume to come to this Thy table, O merciful Lord” intentionally interrupting the expectant character of Eucharistic prayers with a note of sobriety.
Given all that the Holy Spirit is revealing in regards to hidden sin, unhealthy practices and lack of integrity – lifting the cover off of cover up culture if you will – let’s as a national family intentionally take these 40 days and move towards accountability rather than waiting for it to find us out. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Can we trust that? Embrace that? Live and worship penitently out of that?
The last thing I will highlight here about this lenten season is the centrality of kneeling. For all kinds of reasons this practice has fallen out of usage in many churches, but this corporate “bodily” practice has been part of the Church’s communal worship for centuries. Corporate kneeling in confession is a powerful optic and posture as it stands in stark contrast to the broader culture around us.
Given the reality that the world is watching us intensely right now, what would it look like for our communities to model and express humility to those around us in the way we worship and engage in our service to Christ. What impact could a “kneeling church” have in our world today?
Let us journey into Lent this year with a renewed commitment to simplicity – non- hype as we would say in the Vineyard – marked by penitence and visible, tangible, humility.
Step by step.
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(Much of this source material is from Laura McClain, a graduate of Wheaton College and the Associate for Traditional Liturgy and Worship at Church of the Incarnation, Dallas, TX.)