Gesimatide
If Lent is the journey to Easter, to the return to our Baptism into Christ, then the three Sundays of Gesimatide (before the start of Lent) are the days when we begin making preparations for that journey. All three Sunday readings invite some thought about the coming Fast and its ultimate goal: the Paschal Feast.
What is Septuagesima?
The three "gesima" Sundays form the little season of pre-lent. Septuagesima means "70 or so" days before Easter. It is a reminder that Lent is coming, and a call for us to decide how we will observe the Church's fast. Note that from Septuagesima until Easter, the Alleluia is omitted from the Divine Service, and replaced by the Tract (Psalm verses, usually of a penitential nature).
Septuagesima Sunday
The first week suggests that our fast include a refraining from complaining (against God and one another). Septuagesima means "70 or so" days before Easter. It is a reminder that Lent is coming, and a call for us to decide how we will observe the Church's fast. Note that from Septuagesima until Easter, the Alleluia is omitted from the Divine Service, and replaced by the Tract (Psalm verses, usually of a penitential nature).
What t Is Sexagesima?
Sexagesima is the second Sunday of Pre-Lent. It's name means "60-some" days before Easter. The readings remind us that the key to our Lenten renewal is a careful hearing and heeding of the powerful and living Word of God - a Word which always goes forth with the power to accomplish God's purposes (to give us life and salvation), but which can be rendered fruitless in our lives by inattentive hearing, by not letting it take deep root, or by letting other things (cares and riches) squeeze it out. The church calls us to receive and welcome this implanted Word which, when really heard and heeded, truly saves our souls.
Sexagesima Sunday
The second week suggests that our fast provide us more intensive time with the Word, that it may bear abundant fruit within us.
What is Quinquagesima?
Quinquagesima means "about 50 days" before Easter. This is the last Sunday of Pre-Lent, and Ash Wednesday is only three days away. Today's Gospel shows how the disciples don't understand at all what the Lord's Passion is all about - and how often we misunderstand it too. We pray that like the blind man, our eyes will be opened and we will follow Jesus up the road to Jerusalem that we might finally "get" what God is up to in the suffering and death of the Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Quinquagesima Sunday
The third week reminds us that with eyes wide open to the mercies of God, Christ our Lord summons us to travel the road that leads to Calvary and beyond to the joys of the Resurrection.
Gesimatide invites some intentional thought and planning about how you will join in the keeping of the Fast (Lent auf Deutsch ist Fastenzeit) and practice the other Lenten disciplines of prayer and almsgiving, finding in Christ alone the bread which sustains our new life and which frees us to share our bread with the poor and to experience the joy of time in prayer with our Lord Jesus.
