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This is the first week of Lent when we begin to prepare ourselves for Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection.  But like all things COVID, even Lent is different.  The last day of the Season of Epiphany was on Tuesday.  Shrove Tuesday – a time to celebrate before we enter a time of introspection and strengthening of our faith.  

We have all seen images of Mardi Gras in years past – the parades and hedonistic celebrations in places such as New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro.  In Canada, we are much more likely to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake dinner at the church.  This year, Carol and I enjoyed our pancakes at home with just the two of us.   

Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent, is usually marked with a short church service where we are marked with a cross made with the ashes from last years burnt palm branches mixed with sacred oil.  This year we watched a Meditation on YouTube which was provided by Comox Presbyterian Church. It was well done but still, not quite the same.  

During Lent, Christians are encouraged to engage in a Spiritual Practice which will bring them closer to Jesus or strengthen their relationship with Christ. Historically, that practice was fasting.  The understanding was that we are to suffer symbolically for the six weeks of Lent which represents the suffering Jesus experienced on the Cross, as a result of the violence (torture and crucifixion) inflicted upon him. This symbolic suffering would bring us closer to Christ because of the shared experience (symbolically) with Jesus. The problem with that practise for me is that it presumes that there is some redeeming value in violence.  I totally reject that concept. We do not need to suffer to strengthen our relationship with Christ. That Jesus’ vision of a world grounded in justice and compassion was so threatening to the political and religious institutions of the day, that they had no option other than to torture and crucify him like a common criminal is abhorrent.  

There are many other ways we can strengthen our relationship to Christ through shared experiences that are positive.  ·       

  • Jesus was a teacher so we can use this time to read and study scripture or explore our theology by reading a book that pushes our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ (Comox United Church has a good library and I could help you find something appropriate). ·       
  • Jesus spent time alone, praying throughout his ministry, so this could be a good time of year to begin a practise of daily prayer, meditation, or journaling.          
  • The wilderness experience is one Jesus entered a number of times. There are a couple of ways we can enter that shared experience. The first is to actually go into a physical wilderness (there are lots of opportunities on Vancouver Island) and spend some quiet time contemplating and finding God in creation.  The other is to enter the metaphorical wilderness of our inner life and feel and explore our emotions around those times we have been in the wilderness of grief, loneliness, brokenness or depression.          
  • Jesus was a healer so this could be a time to pray for and reach out to someone we know who seeks wholeness.         
  • Jesus was an active justice maker so this could be a time to make a gift of finances or time to organizations committed to making this a better world for all.         
  • Jesus was also a peace maker, so this could be a time to forgive those in our lives whom we have become estranged from.  We could support organizations who work for peace on local, national or worldwide issues. It makes me wonder what the impact would be if all Christians wrote 40 letters on behalf of Amnesty International every Lent?

My point is, on this first week of Lent, there are many ways to grow our faith and strengthen our relationship with Christ that does not sanctify, glorify, or give any redeeming value to violence. Violence only begets more violence which is the antipathy of the Kingdom of God that we are called to work for – with Jesus as our partner.  

So, this Lent, use your imagination, find a spiritual practise that works for YOU, and grow in faith.  Jesus is waiting to welcome you with open arms.  

Hallelujah!  (oops)

I mean, God is with you.

Amen!