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I was in Ashburton for Mass on Sunday (the last Sunday before Lent) and this morning I will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass and distribution of Ashes with the community of Nazareth Care in Christchurch (a regular Wednesday commitment for me) and later this morning with the sisters at Mercy House in Christchurch (also a regular weekly engagement)
I have no doubt that the Nazareth and Mercy communities, as the Ashburton people on Sunday, don’t think of Lent and Happy in the same sentence.
But these two words do belong together.
It helps us to appreciate this when we recall that the word LENT comes from an old English word meaning lengthening of days or springtime.
That’s a bit difficult to connect living south of the Equator where we’re in the last weeks of summer, but in the northern hemisphere the pre-Easter season of Lent does coincide with springtime.
I’ve decided this year to offer these daily reflections around a spring-time theme. Lent as a season of growth and an invitation to go deeper.
Too often we content ourselves with staying on the surface of religion satisfied when we obey commandments and anxious when we fail. The commandments with the rules and rituals of religion are important, but they are signs pointing us to a deeper reality, that is life with Jesus Christ available to us in the midst of our daily ups and downs.
Our sadness comes when we attach to the signs.
Our liberation and our growth comes when we go deeper.
And a guaranteed way to discover our depth is, in the words of today’s Ash Wednesday’s scriptures: “go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place”,
Together, this Lent, let’s go deeper.
Until tomorrow…
Upcoming Cafe Gatherings:
Send a name, date, place and time and I’ll share your invitation. Just initiate a gathering, send me the info, and turn up to meet with anyone else who wants to take an hour to chat about their experience of God.
Wednesday 25 February 10.00am
Stumble Inn, 200 Mangorei Road, Merrilands, New Plymouth
Joan
I had made secular commitments for today before I realised it was Ash Wednesday, and Mass times at the two parishes of choice simply don’t fit. First reaction was guilt at missing such a holy day; second was sadness at not being able to receive the ashes, and disappointment at not being able to talk about them to those in the community who say, oh you’ve got a smudge on your face. So thank you Jesus for today’s Gospel, which with Fr John’s encouragement, am feeling pretty happy about. Happy Lent, everyone.
Thank you once again Fr. John,
Yes Lent for me too is a happy time. Time to reflect and get back to grass roots spiritually and move forward with a renewed strength on to better things. I have hope.
Anne