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Pastor's Corner
with
Rev. Sungmu Lee, PhD
Sungmu Lee is an ordained elder in the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was appointed pastor to our church in July 2005.
More about Sungmu and his pastoral focus.
Sungmu's Monthly Message
Forty days of Lent begin on the 13th of this month, Ash Wednesday and end on March 30th, Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Before celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we Christians have forty days of preparation time. Now, you may say, “Pastor, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, there are forty six days. Why do you say 40 days of Lent?”
In the early Christian Church Lent was associated with baptismal preparation. While preparing for the baptism, the candidates were expected to fast. When early Christians had the desire to keep the Lenten fast as strict forty days, they needed forty six days before Easter because they traditionally never fasted on Sundays.
Every Sunday for early Christians was a little Easter. The day when the Lord was resurrected must always be a day of joy, thanksgiving, and victory. Therefore, fasting was most strictly forbidden on Sunday. Now, you have the answer. Forty six days minus six Sundays equals forty days! This is the wisdom of our Christian ancestors who balanced between religious piety and victorious joy during Lent.
Piety and joy can be expressed very differently. As we come to church on Sunday, we are invited to contemplate our failures. We are the workers of iniquity, killers of the prophets, and enemies of the cross of Christ. Thus, we should be in religious piety at the service. On the other hand, by the grace of Jesus Christ we have become children of God, citizens of the kingdom of God, and members of Christ’s glorious body. Now we are in a dilemma. Do we sing alleluias or run for cover? Do we praise God, clapping our hands with great joy, or beg eternal pardon, saying, “Lord, I am a sinner. Give mercy on me.”
In the Medieval Church, piety was emphasized and its Sunday worship was like a funeral: “Lord, I am a sinner not worthy of your grace.” However, since the 16th century Reformation, the Protestant worship has changed dramatically, allowing the congregation to express joy at worship.
As a Methodist pastor I would like to emphasize the balance between religious piety and spiritual joy. If you want to kneel and pray at the altar rail, please feel free to do so before or after the service. On the other hand, if you want to clap your hands, shout alleluia or amen, or dance a liturgical dance, please feel free to do so during the service. This is the wisdom and faith of our Christian ancestors who kept the balance between piety and joy at worship.
Do you want to inherit the faith and wisdom as we begin the season of Lent? Please come to the combined Ash Wednesday service at Islip United Methodist Church at 8:00 pm. Through the worship service you will encounter our Lord who died for us and was resurrected to save each of us from sins. Through the Word and the acted symbol of ashes, you will experience both religious piety and spiritual joy for eternal life. Amen.
Sungmu Lee
