Ash Wednesday (2nd March this year) marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Last year’s palm crosses are burnt and a cross is marked on the forehead.
In the early church, Christians who had committed grave faults were turned out of the church because of their sins until returning on Holy Saturday after forty (not including Sundays) days’ penance. Later, all Christians found that this period, Lent, was a time when they could “brush up” their own discipleship before the church’s principal feast of Easter. This is where the practice of giving something up for Lent came from which many of us will have done over the years. But maybe this year, after the 2 years of the pandemic, giving something up for Lent doesn’t feel like such a good idea when we have had to give up so much. Perhaps, then, we could consider taking up something beautiful for God – giving someone a friendly smile, phoning someone living on their own or a friend or relative we haven’t spoken to for ages, remembering to say “thankyou,” or sending some money to Christian Aid. And the forty days of Lent are also a good time read the Bible and here are a few suggestions:
Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Philippians 3:10-11 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.
Have a good Lent!
Canon Robert Wright