Welcome to the Ethiopian LENT!

Thanks Lord for he has helped us see this date to partake in the blessings of the Lent, the Greatest Fast of Christians.

The issue of fasting will never fade away nor will it sound a cliché if we talk about its merits whenever opportunities such as the lent are in place. So, before we go to the Lent and treat specificities, saying a few words on fasting in general will be good.

Fasting refers to preventing the flesh from its unrestricted enjoyment. Religion and fastening are insperably interwoven. This is a truth both to the old and New Testaments. By the time prophets met God, they ate or drunk nothing. Exod. 34:28. The wrath that transgression brought was reversed by fasting. Jonah 3:5-10.

In the New Testament, the Lord Christ has blessed fasting by having one of His own before going to other activities. Math.4:2; Luke 4:2. He is the living example who showed us to beat through fasting the Devil that tempts us in greed, miserliness and pomposity. He has told us that the Devil, even if it has lived with us for years, could be chased away by fasting. Math. 17:21; Mark 9:2. Apostles chosen to serve the Church received the Holy spirit’s guide in their times of prayer and fasting. Acts.13:2. A person who humbly fasts and prays is readily available to listen to the voice of God. Deacons and priests were ordained after fasts and prayers. Acts 4:25; 13:3. It is because they have diligently asked God in prayers and fasts that Cornilios and his likes have been dignified. Acts 10:20. If we fast, we are blessed to get not only what we expect or want to have. God will also give us the good thing we have never dreamt of.

While fasting, we have been ordered to abstain from sharing a bed with a spouse and also consuming alcohol and animal products since all these empower the flesh over the spirit. 1 cor. 6:5. We are also expected to feed the needy.

Of the seven seasons of fast endorsed by the Ethiopian Church, the Lent is the major one which our Lord has fasted to be a model for his followers who need to beat their archenemy, the Devil. Heeding the Lord’s black and white order of fast, we follow his example to overcome temptations that could come through countless ways.

The Lent is our greatest fast because it was fasted by our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This is a fast we take as part and parcel of the price our Lord has paid for the transgression of Adam and Eve. As they were chased out of Heaven due to their unwarranted eating, the Lord has fasted to give the human kind the means to satiate spiritual hunger. It is a fast of victory by which major sins- greed, miserliness and pomposity – are beaten. The Lord has fasted the lent to declare our transition to a new age of salvation. Through the Lent, the Lord has become a model to His followers. He has also blessed hermitages of mothers and fathers since he has fasted it in a remote place without meeting anyone. This fast is also a fast of preparation. As Israel used to make their own preparation for the Passover, we also fast before taking the Holy Communion.

As per the Ethiopian tradition, the Lent has fifty – five days. The first week is a remeberance of a Byzantium king, Hirkal, who had fought in defence of Christians.

The last week is the Passion Week in which Christ’s atonement is remembered with more demanding religious services.

The Lent proper is, therefore, the remaining forty days

The Church has devoted the Sundays that fall within the Lent for different purposes. They also have been given names that remind the specific purpose attached to each Sunday. We will see each of them very briefly.

1. Zeworede/ Mussieni

This is the first Sunday of the Lent hymns devoted to this day have to do with the crucifixion of the Lord who has come down to us. Literally, Zeworede means” the one who has come down” referring to the Incarnation of the Heavenly Lord. Jn.1:9-11; 3:13-21.

There are also verses that remind Mosses. As mosses has fasted for forty days and nights to receive the Law, so did the Lord to give us the New Testamental laws of Christianity. Hence, the Sunday is alternatively known us Mossieni to mean “of Mosses”. Exod 24:18; 1 kings 19:8; Matt 4:1-4.

Have a blessed week and see you next week for the second Sunday, Kidist. Amen!!!

Praise be to God. Amen!!