Welcome Dear Feast of Lent

Well here we are in the Lenten season again. Today, of course, is Ash Wednesday. You know, this might sound odd, but in many ways, Lent is one of my very favorite times of the year. I love the evening services with the quiet meditations on Holy Week as we slowly build up to the time that we observe remembrance of that week itself.

In honor of Lent this year, I thought I would post a poem from George Herbert. If you are not familiar with Herbert, he was a member of the Metaphysical School of Poetry that appeared in the early seventeenth century. Better known metaphysical poets include John Donne and Andrew Marvell.

Lent by George Herbert
Welcome deare feast of Lent: who loves not thee,
He loves not Temperance, or Authoritie,
        But is compos'd of passion.
The Scriptures bid us fast; the Church sayes, now:
Give to thy Mother, what thou wouldst allow
        To ev'ry Corporation.

The humble soul compos'd of love and fear
Begins at home, and layes the burden there,
        When doctrines disagree.
He sayes, in things which use hath justly got,
I am a scandall to the Church, and not
        The Church is so to me.

True Christians should be glad of an occasion
To use their temperance, seeking no evasion,
        When good is seasonable;
Unlesse Authoritie, which should increase
The obligation in us, make it lesse,
        And Power it self disable.

Besides the cleannesse of sweet abstinence,
Quick thoughts and motions at a small expense,
        A face not fearing light:
Whereas in fulnesse there are sluttish1 fumes,
Sowre exhalations, and dishonest rheumes,2
        Revenging the delight.

Then those same pendant profits, which the spring
And Easter intimate, enlarge the thing,
        And goodnesse of the deed.
Neither ought other mens abuse of Lent
Spoil the good use; lest by that argument
        We forfeit all our Creed.

It 's true, we cannot reach Christ's fortieth day;
Yet to go part of that religious way,
        Is better than to rest:
We cannot reach our Savior's purity;
Yet are bid, Be holy ev'n as he.
        In both let 's do our best.

Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone,
Is much more sure to meet with him, than one
        That travelleth by-ways:
Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more
        May strengthen my decays.

Yet Lord instruct us to improve our fast
By starving sin and taking such repast
        As may our faults control:
That ev'ry man may revel at his door,
Not in his parlor; banqueting the poor,
        And among those his soul.