Today and for the next forty days or so we begin a process of penitence, reconciliation and good works in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.
'Now, now '- it is the Lord who speaks, 'come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.' Let your hearts be broken not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and ready to relent. Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent, will not leave a blessing as he passes, oblation and libation for the Lord your God?
Sound the trumpet in Zion! Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, call the people together, summon the community, assemble the elders. gather the children, even the infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom . And the bride her alcove Between vestibule and altar let the priests lament. Let them say, 'Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your heritage a thing of shame, a byword for the nations. Why should it be said among the nations, "Where is their God?"
Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land, took pity on his people.
The Prophet Joel ...Sistine Chapel
Reflection: Asacred time and space
Joel is right. It’s good to go to a place apart, a sacred place apart, a sacred space – a room for prayer, a few days holiday/retreat, a time in which we can take time out to ponder the meaning of our lives, On what we would like to see written on our headstone.
'Come aside and rest awhile'
It is a time to refresh the body, mind and spirit, in quiet prayer, in a church, some holy place of nature, away from it all.
Maybe to could do some fasting or other penance for our sins or the sins of others- in our family, in our church, in our workplace, in the environment and think of the type of love that we are called to share with others, especially the poor.
Lent focuses on prayer, fasting and almsgiving: all ways of taking us inside ourselves to be renewed, and outside ourselves to love others.
The real test of Christian life is how we live our lives in our everyday . The test of Lent in the end is not what we have done for Lent, but what our Lent has done for us and others. It is a sacred space to get in touch with Jesus, and a sacred time to talk seriously with him
William Arthur Ward wrote about fasting and feasting in Lent:
Fast from judging others; feast on Christ in them. Fast from wanting more; feast on being thankful. Fast from anger; feast on patience. Fast from worry; feast on trust. Fast from complaining; feast on enjoyment. Fast from negatives ; feast on positives. Fast from stress ; feast on prayer. Fast from anger ; feast on forgiveness. Fast from self concern; feast on compassion for others. Fast from fear; feast on truth. Fast from discouragement ; feast on hope. Fast from gossip; feast on silence. Fast from fighting: feast on peace. Amen
Story:The choice
A politician died and as he arrived at heaven's gate he is met by St. Peter. "I'd like to let you in" says St. Peter, "but you have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
First Peter escorted him to hell. Our politician friend finds himself in the middle of a green golf course with a beautiful clubhouse serving gourmet food . All his old friends ran to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the poor people.
The day flew by but then it was time to visit heaven where the politician joined a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing their harps and singing hymns. Much to his surprise, he again had a good time and the hours flew by.
When St Peter asked for his choice, he choose to be with his friends in hell. Immediately he finds himself in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. His friends, are now dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
"I don't understand." stammers the politician "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course, clubhouse, lobster, caviar, champagne, and dancing. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says....... "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted." (Teresa Kennedy, A Catholic Ireland friend, Trinidad. WI)
Today’s prophet- Joel - 400BC
Joel was very conscious of God’s judgement
and our need to repent as a people.
His book of Prophesies begins with the threat of a terrible plague of locusts – a sign of God’s wrath. He moves on to a call to repentance - God’s real desire for us.
He finishes with God’s assured forgiveness
Speaking in the name of God he wrote,
‘I will pour out my spirit on all peoples, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
God listens to our hearts, and there is always hope. As long as there is life in us, there is hope for change and growth, God treasures that life and will always build on our hope.
A gentle call to action
There are three strands of Lenten observance are as ancient as Christianity itself: prayer, fasting and compassion.
Prayer places us squarely in God’s presence Fasting focuses the body and mind and is the soul of prayer. Reminding us of the close integration of body, mind and spirit and compassion for others is the lifeblood of fasting. By optional fasting we are reminded of others who have to do without by reason of poverty, injustice or sickness.
Try to keep today as a Fast and Abstinence day. (if you miss out today – you can always choose another day to fast!)
Don’t forget to get signed with the Ashes today.
Prayer
Lord,
As we begin the journey of Lent, may this season of prayer, repentance and compassion open our eyes to our own sinfulness, our church's, our society's and our need to forgive ourselves and one another our sins.
I ask this in Jesus name. Amen
Meditation image of the day.
Your Father, who sees all that is done in secret, will reward you. .....Mt 6: 18
Early growth need tender care and protection Lent is a springtime for spiritual growth. Be gentle with yourself and others this Lent.
