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Waiting for the "Sweetness"

Greetings:

This past Sunday, along with being Mothering Sunday in the UK, was what I often think of as “hump” Sunday in Lent, (like Wednesday is ‘hump’ day each week).            

Mothering Sunday in the UK originated with the domestic servants being given a day off to visit their family, especially their mothers. Along with the visit, they were often permitted to make a special cake to take along.

This cake is now commonly known as ‘Simnel Cake’.            

Over the years, Flo and I were introduced to this tradition, beginning in our 1st parish. In our 2nd parish, the traditional baker of this cake was a 2nd generation member. Over the years, Betty, along with her mother before her, baked the cake. Their recipe was cut out of a magazine, dating back many years.            

I had the privilege of viewing this recipe first-hand. Intriguing to me were the notes written in the margins. Each year, they had noted

  • the date;

  • what was the news on CBC Radio;

  • temperature;  and

  • a reflection on the size of the eggs being used.

    (Remember these eggs were produced on the farm, with no grading system back then.)  

Many will ask, what is Simnel Cake?
Google gives us this brief explanation: The ‘simnel cake’ you’ll eat today is a light and almondy fruitcake made from white flour, sugar, butter, eggs, spices, dried fruit, zest, and candied peel. It has a layer of marzipan, or almond paste, baked into the middle, and orange-flower water, or brandy, may be added to either the cake batter or the filling.             

This past Saturday, the ‘Word for The Day’ from SSJE was, ‘Wait’. Brother Sean Glenn shared this reflection:

Trust in the slow work of God. God is doing a new thing – and at God’s own pace. Christ calls us to rest and wait in the love of resurrection light. - Br. Sean Glenn, SSJE            

Lent can be a long season.

At the same time, it can a be a season of rest.  

Today, I reflect on the tradition around Mothering Sunday in the UK with a sense of the domestic workers having a day of rest, along with the patience required when baking a Simnel Cake.

Baking a Simnel Cake requires waiting. I recall my first attempt: checking the cake for being done and, of course, the marzipan in the middle always coated the testing device.            

The nature of the cake batter for the Simnel Cake requires one to be patient during the baking process.

The nature of Lent requires us to be patient, in preparing for the resurrection of our Lord at Easter.  

Observing the 4th Sunday in Lent, is a great opportunity to value the discipline of Lent, along with the anticipation of Easter. I am sure, in the origin of Mothering Sunday, the cake, with the marzipan in the middle, may have been a metaphor for the ‘sweetness’ of the resurrection.            

Wait.  Easter is coming.

Blessings in our Lent journey, Archdeacon Brian+