To keep a True Lent.

It is a time for reflection.

The story of Noah reflects a great flood. If we were to write that story today, we would talk about the flood of the Esk Valley and the land between Hastings and Napier.

The writer would look for signs of hope amongst the devastation.

The writer would want to direct our thoughts to the hope we need to survive, endure, and overcome.

A loss of hope brings individuals and societies to the edge of violence, anger, hatred and exclusion, where people become each others’ enemies.

Second Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation

In the Preface of the Second Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation, we read:

‘we know that by testing us, you change our hearts to prepare them for reconciliation.

Even more, by your Spirit, you move human hearts so that enemies may speak to each other again,

adversaries may join hands,

and peoples seek to meet together.

By the working of your power

it comes about, O Lord,

that hatred is overcome by love,

revenge gives way to forgiveness,

and discord is changed to mutual respect.’

Lent for Us

These are the challenges of every age, of every community, of each individual and of family.

We, Christians, are no different.

We do not stand apart from the reality of human life; we stand in the midst of it as men and women of Christ.

Lent is a unique time for us all to reconnect with our Vocation to Christianity – our call to be another Christ.

St Teresa of Ávila (attributed)

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Fr Joe Grayland

Lent video on the Transfiguration click here