When the Spring Festival Meets Lent
How can the joy and festivity of the New Year blend with the sorrow and self-denial of Lent?
Pastor Jeshurun (pseudonym) holds a master of divinity and a master of theology from Calvin Theological Seminary, specializing in the New Testament. He currently serves in Beijing.
How can the joy and festivity of the New Year blend with the sorrow and self-denial of Lent?
I believe that this is not an era that demands achievements or pursues accomplishments, but rather an era that yearns for spiritual awakening. We must genuinely return to a place of rest, waiting upon God, encountering him in the depths of our souls, and hearing his gentle whisper. We must recognize that he is greater than all our actions and possessions, yet he encompasses our entire lives.
Perhaps the Passover dinner was not as delicious as the dumplings eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival…Before the Pharaoh of Egypt, the Lord God prepared a banquet for his people, filling their hearts with sweetness, happiness, and joy. God has prepared another banquet for his children, which is the Holy Communion prepared by Jesus for his disciples…where Jesus' love is fully poured out.
For Chinese Christians, embracing both church feasts and traditional Chinese festivals is a delicate balance. While adhering to biblical principles and avoiding idolatry, we are also called to live in harmony with all, showcasing God's goodness to unbelievers (Romans 12:18).