We commence our pilgrim journey. We elect to travel out of darkness. We choose to walk amid increasing light towards the Holy Mountain of Easter. The Gospel calls to full sincerity and total resolve. No one can serve two masters. All compromise with falsehood in the mind and depravity in the heart is cast aside: "Everyone who is of the Truth listens to my voice". Our foreheads are marked with ashes of contrition. We set out in repentance, lamenting evils of the past. Our journey leads to healing and to peace amid Easter joy.
There is a morbid tendency to dwell on the faults of others. We are fed a surfeit of other people's sins. This distracts from the purpose of our Lenten journey. I must examine my conscience. I seek pardon and healing and peace that only God can give. When we are sick of what use to discuss endlessly the disease of others? "Lord if you will you can make me clean! Lord that I may see! Lord that I May walk!" Our Lenten listening to Scripture truth will give to us a heart made new. We are called to cleanse ears and mind as if coming anew to the threshold of Christian faith. "Repent and believe the Gospel". We listen to Christ as if for the very first time. Words are akin to coins of currency. They may loose their lustre. Our eyes may no longer see. Our ears may no longer hear.
The world is too much with us!
Late and soon.
Getting and spending we lay waste our powers
Little we see in nature that is ours
We have given our hearts away
A sordid boon!
We may forget the three sacred strands forming one rope that binds us fast to healing grace. Across the globe all Christians reach for prayer. Fasting and generous giving of alms. We seek sincerely to live our springtime prayer.
What we have darkened
Heal with Light .. .
And what we have destroyed
Make whole!
Today we choose! For many this is the final Lent, the closing lap in the mysterious race of which Paul speaks. We unite with our Byzantine pilgrims in their ancient prayer: "Let us cast off all works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Having sailed across the great and cleansing waters of our Lenten Fast may we reach on the Third Day, the Resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Saviour of us all".
We walk close to Christ as He calls "Repent and believe in the Gospel". We close our ears against all siren calls that lead us from health and happiness to wreck the barque of sanity on the rocks of folly and final failure: "Lord save us - we perish!"
In stillness and in prayer we listen to the Good Shepherd voice. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. I am the Vine, you are the branches .. . without Me you can do nothing". In contrition, in amendment and in prayer we will find calm for the spirit. The call of Dante is as true as ever. ".. . In his will is our peace!"
In the healing days of Lent the awakening world of Nature mirrors our daily prayer. Who is so dull as to forget the needs of the questing spirit within?
The day is come, the accepted day,
When Grace (like nature) flowers anew,
Trained by thy hand (the surer way),
Rejoice we in our Springtime too.
Let the whole earth in worship bow,
Great God, before thy Mercy seat,
As we, renewed by grace do now,
With praises new, thy presence, greet."
Repent! And believe the Gospel.