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Catholic-Courier-1995 PAGE 12 THURSDAY MARCH 2, 1995 J^i COLUMNS CATHOLIC COURIER DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER, N.Y. COMMENTARY Lent meaningless apart from Easter practice for one bishop to offer fra­ Father Richard P. McBrien Christians, found especially in Asia ternal correction to another, even if Syndicated columnist Minor, were called Quartodecimahs, which in Latin rneans "fourteenth." that other happened to be the bish­ The word Lent is derived from an Others celebrated Easter on the op of Rome. old English word meaning "spring­ Sunday following Passover, in accor­ In any case, the dispute was not of­ time." The Latin adverb lente means dance with the practice in Rome. ficially settled until more than 100 "slowly." On the basis of etymology Pope Victor I (189-98), one of the years later. The Council of Nicea (325) alone, Lent signals die onset of spring early church's most forceful popes, endorsed the Sunday celebration. The and invites us to slow down our pace, convened synods of bishops in Rome Quartodeciman practice, however, to gather our thoughts, as it were, to and at other Christian centers from continued for at least another centu­ take stock of our lives, to begin once Gaul (present-day France) to ry- again to put things in their proper Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) in or­ What the history of this controver­ perspective. der to make the case for the Roman sy teaches us is that Lent and Easter But Lent means more than the practice. are also on a very long list of items coming of spring (in the Southern SSAYS But when the churches of Asia Mi­ related to Catholic faith and practice Hemisphere, after all, it's fall, not nor refused to abandon the Quar- that have been, and remain, subject spring, that approaches) or a slowing IN todeciman custom of observing East­ to great variation and change. Only down of one's pace in life. er on Passover, Victor threatened to those Catholics lacking a sense of his­ The season of Lent is inextricably THEOLOGY excommunicate them. tory could claim to be surprised or linked with the celebration of Easter. Here again church history provides Apart from Easter, Lent is meaning­ er Vigil. And that is still the case today a lesson for us today. Popes don't al­ shocked by this. less. for the universal church. ways act responsibly or prudently. Can we imagine, therefore, our During the first three centuries, Although everyone acknowledges Sometimes they overreach their au­ Catholic life without a 40-day season most Christians prepared for Easter that Easter is the most important, in­ thority. of Lent? Of course we can, because by fasting for only two or three days, deed the central, feast of the church's In this instance, Pope Victor clear­ that was, in fact, the case for the first although in some places the Easter year, the time for the celebration of ly did overreach. Irenaeus of Lyons, 300 years or so of the church's histo­ fast was extended to the entire week Easter was the source of much-heat­ one of the greatest bishops and the­ ry. before Easter (now known as Holy ed debate in the early church. ologians of the time (indeed, of all Does that mean there is no longer Week). Unlike today, there were many dif­ time), sharply rebuked the pope, re­ any point or purpose to Lent? Of In Rome it is likely that the Easter ferent calendars in use in the first minding him that previous popes course not, because- the church evolves fast originally lasted three weeks. By Christian centuries: solar, lunar, Jew­ down to Pope Soter (d. about 174) through history, responding to new the fourth century, however, it had in­ ish, Babylonian, and so forth. And had been indulgent toward the Quar- needs and to new circumstances. Such creased to 40 days, as we have it to­ there were also different methods of todecimans. has always been the case, and such day, to correspond with the length of computing the day on which Easter There was no talk then of Bishop will it always be until the end of time. Jesus' fast in the desert (Luke 4:1-13). was to be observed. Irenaeus's violating his "ministry of It is an insight worth pondering this The Roman Lent in its earlier three- Those who followed the Jewish cal­ unity." No one accused him of pope- Lent, as we "slow down," welcome week form was connected with the endar celebrated Easter on the date bashing or of disloyalty to the church. spring, renew our baptismal commit­ pastoral and liturgical preparation of of Passover, namely, the 14th day of It was considered to be clearly with­ ment, and prepare for the great feast catechumens for baptism at the East- the Jewish month of Nisan. These in the limits of acceptable episcopal of the Resurrection. Temptations are as old as human race it as the death and resurrection of Je­ to you and serve you? How come the By Father Albert Shamon sus are in the New Testament. wicked often prosper and the good Courier columnist The second reading gives the Chris­ suffer? What profit is it for us to be Sunday's Readings: (R3) Luke 4:1- tian confession of faith: Jesus is Lord; good?" Jesus says, "Not on bread 13; (Rl) Deuteronomy 26:4-10; (2) raised by God from the dead. alone does man live." Romans 10:8-13. The Gospel gives the threefold con­ Well, maybe so. Then a second In the Constitution on the Sacred fession of Jesus made in reply to the temptation arises: "Ought we to rely Liturgy, Vatican II says: "The Lenten triple temptations of the devil: so much on God? Perhaps we ought to season has a twofold character: (1) it "Not by bread alone shall man live." go to politics, to the kingdoms of this recalls baptism and prepares for it; "You shall do homage to the Lord world — to depend solely on our own and (2) it stresses a penitential spirit" your God; human resources. God helps those (#109). him alone shall you adore." who help themselves. Maybe secular The first readings of the Sundays "You shall not put the Lord your humanism is the answer; namely, that of Lent present the covenants of the God to the test." this world is everything and man is Old Testament, helping us to under­ WORD This threefold confession plots the god. If we fall down and worship diese stand what God does for us in bap­ future course of Jesus' ministry, cul­ things, won't all good things come to tism, effected by the death and res­ FOR minating in His confession before Pon­ us?" Jesus says, "The Lord your God urrection of Jesus. The first reading of SUNDAY tius Pilate (1 Timothy 6:13). This con­ alone shall you adore." the first Sunday of Lent recalls the fession, focused on the will of God, Finally, a third temptation: "Ought ancient Creed of Israel; the second characterized His whole ministry and not God give us some sign that it is and third Sundays recall die covenants prodigal son (fourth Sunday), and the finally brought Him to the cross. worthwhile to serve Him. What's the with Abraham and Moses; the fourth, adulterous woman (fifth Sunday). The Responsorial Psalm (91) is the harm in a sign? Why are you so silent the first Passover in the Promised Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday one quoted by the devil in the third at Mass and in the Blessed Sacra­ Land; and the fifth, God's promise to (March 1) to the Chrism Mass of Holy temptation. The devil misapplied the ment?" Jesus says, "Don't put the Lord renew His people. Thursday (April 13). The Lenten Sun­ promise of angelic assistance. The re­ your God to the test." The second readings harmonize days number five. The sixth Sunday, sponse puts the promise into proper So you see, like the devil, we too with either the first reading or the Palm Sunday, begins Holy Week. focus: only those who cling to the can tempt God; we too can ask, "If Gospel passages. Next Sunday's first reading con­ Lord will be victorious over tempta­ you are the Son of God ..." The good The Gospel readings for the first cerns the harvest feast in the Old Tes­ tion, as was Jesus. news is that we can resist these temp­ two Sundays of Lent recount Jesus' tament. What is emphasized is not so The temptations that assail us are as tations, as Jesus did, by going to the temptation and the transfiguration. much the harvest offering as the con­ old as the human race. Like the dev­ Scriptures. And as St. Paul advised by The remaining three Sundays deal fession of faith accompanying it. This il, we are tempted to say, "If you are re­ going to God himself: "Everyone who with faith and baptism: the call to re­ confession of faith is one of the oldest ally God, how come you don't change calls on the name of the Lord will be pent or perish (third Sunday), the in the Old Testament and is as basic to stones into bread for those who pray saved" (R2). NEW HOPE PENFIELD FROM SHAM SHILLELAGHS ADULT OPTICIANS SERVICES, INC. Fashion Eyewear... 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