Quadratos is showing a way forward - reshaping present day understanding by researching ancient Christian tradition, then applying that tradition to meet today’s needs.
Which is the Stronger Motivation: Fear or Love?
Quadratos answers, “love”. And we will come to see how’s today’s “Ritual of Ashes” needs to be used in an entirely fresh way – as a seal of love, rather than a mark of fear or penance.
Let’s look back to Christianity’s first six centuries. Surprise, our earliest ancestors had no Ritual of Ashes.
In brief, Ashes were not part of Len’t origin because the season was about our being inspired by love rather than penance in fear.
Our research continues by noting that not all Christian traditions start Lent with a Rite of Ashes or even on a Wednesday.
One prime example is our Christian Orthodox sisters and brothers have no rite of ashes whatsoever. Rather, they begin Lent on “Clean Monday” marked by family outings, picnics on hills, and kite flying – all signifying the lifting of spirits.
In today’s Orthodox practice, we see a continuation of early Christian tradition.
It appears that ash was first used in the 5th Century – as a mark placed on penitents who were publicly rejoining the community after having committed some harmful action. Then later in the 6th Century – as Lent took on the spirituality of atonement – the rite of ash was extended to the entire community.
We can now understand that the rite of ash did not signify being inspired by love, but rather a gesture expressing remorse and public penance.
Today, we might widen this understanding to the very Cosmos. For the Cosmos is a visible expression of the Holy One’s ongoing breath – and so are all of us!
We can now see that Lent began with a glorious prayer in which we sung out – our full throated – Gloria and Alleluia. Our ancestors clearly expressed our entry into Lent as inspired by Love. So how fitting that even to this day, the Orthodox have hillside picnics and fly kites!
Tragically (in my view) many Western Christians today are caught in an unreflective belief that restoring a penitential Rite of Ashes is a movement forward. Seemingly with their discovery of the ritual’s value, they have unreflectively started a practice without knowing it’s origin or intent.
Christianity has a much richer and far more ancient spirituality than that of atonement. It is Theosis. And I believe this understanding will serve us better in today’s difficulties.
Theosis is the very solid ground of Quadratos. And our ancient ancestors provided us not just a ritual but an entire Season of Lent crafted from Theosis with an intent that we be deepened in love and know we are beloved.
Episode 4
Hear Alexander John and Bron discuss the meaning of the Rite of Ashes, compare it with the ancient Rite of Election, and suggest one way to keep the Rite of Ashes but pray it in the spirituality of love and Theosis.
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