The Lenten season is emminent.  I always found it a mite bit hypocritical that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is preceeded by Fat Tuesday, which is the day of ultimate decadance and debochery.  A sin is a sin folks, Tuesday, Friday, Lent, Christmas, Fat Tuesday, your Mom’s birthday….. God doesn’t look at the calendar, he searches your heart…

Not all Christian’s celebrate Lent.  It’s been my experience that mostly Catholic’s observe this tradition.  I know my church does not have a special service on Ash Wednesday, so I am required to attend Mass at my local Catholic church that day to receive the blessing.  More about that later.  I am NOT Catholic, so I always feel funny about attending Mass.  Not simply because a Catholic priest french kissed me when I was a teenager (gross), but because there are so many rules, so much seemingly unnecessary pomp and circumstance in the ceremonies. 

I love the Lord with all my heart, but I don’t think he’s in those little wafers (the Catholics believe the elements of the Eucharist, bread and wine, are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus and that they are no longer bread and wine, but only retain their appearance of bread and wine), and I certainly can’t get behind everyone drinking from the same cup no matter what they’re whiping it with.  I just don’t understand the regulations in Catholic church.  I like Eddie Izzard’s take on the teachings of Cathol.

To me, if you’re accepting communion, there’s no special class or badge required.  You should simply hold the following truths:  1) you are a sinner, 2) you need forgiveness, 3) Christ is the savior.  That’s it.  You don’t need to believe the piece of lavash that was just passed to you has ACTUALLY been transformed into Christ’s flesh – and you don’t need to believe the little plastic shot glass of grape juice is ACTUALLY Christ’s blood.  That would be cannibalism wouldn’t it?  

See it’s my opinion that Christ was a very smart man – God with skin on.  As such, He often spoke in parables or in other words, laymans terms if you will,  so that the average person could get a grip on what he was trying to say.  You know those people on Street Smarts – those are the people He was trying to reach.  When the bible says Jesus said, ”Take of this bread, this is my body broken for you, eat this in remembrance of me – Take this cup, this is my blood of my covenant, sacrificed for you, drink in remembrance of me.”  He does NOT say… when you eat this it IS me, when you have a good reisling remember my blood is sweet……. he says… when you practice this sancitimoneous ceremony, make sure your heart is in the right place and use this symbolism to remind you of the importance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.  No, communion should not be equated to the juice and cookies you got in Sunday School… nor as a mid-morning snack for those who came to church with an empty belly.  Communion is a symbol of His devotion for us, and our devotion to Him.  Where do they come up with the crackers are ACTUALLY Him?  What Priest has the power to change crackers into flesh?  The Bible is riddled with symbolism and open for interpretation.  That’s why it’s so relatable, that’s why it’s still relevant.  I can see one thing, you see another.  You see what you want to see, and you hear what you want to hear. 

Last year for Lent I attended our local Catholic church Mass.  Naturally I arrived late and could not receive the ashes.  I did however practice communion because I am a believer.  I told my mom I chewed the eucharest, she told me that was considered a sin – to bite the flesh of Christ.  I said.. uh Mom… it was a cracker thingie.  That’s when I learned about the whole turns into flesh thingie.  One thing I noticed was that the church was BURSTING at the doors quite literally.  I was standing outside the main hall myself.  One of the others, a small child roughly 7 or 8 years old, upon returning from going to see the Priest for communion was nearly chased down and stopped by the Priest.  So abruptly and right in front of me I actually feared for the child for a moment.  The Priest then sternly said “do you still have the eucharist in your hand?  you need to either take it or give it back.”  OMG I thought to myself…. if I were that little girl I would never want to come to church again.  Apparently that’s another rule I was unaware of.  You’re not allowed to leave the sanctuary with the eucharist.  Doesn’t this sound CULTy to you?  No comprendo. 

So I waited after Mass and spoke with the Priest.  He was a visiting Priest from outside of our area.  He was very kind, excused himself saying this was the one of the rare moments he had the opportunity to serve someone not of his faith.  He was really REALLY down to earth (which surprised me) and took the time to explain the ceremony in which I was about to participate.  He gave me the option of two blessings, I chose the more appropriate of the two.  He also explained that the ashes are actually charred palm frawns from the previous year’s Palm Sunday services.  He dipped his finger into the ashes and formed a cross on my forehead with his thumb and blessed me with the following:

Father in heaven,
the light of Your truth bestows sight to the darkness of sinful eyes
May this season of repentance bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of your light.    Amen.

That brings us full circle to this year’s Lent which starts Feb. 6th.  Are you prepared?