On this weeks programme John and Shane reflect on the season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18th). We have our regular reflection on the gospel of the Sunday with some liturgical odds and ends and notices.

Lent is seen in a very negative sense - understood in the context of "giving things up", but it also be seen as a joyous season when we return to the embracing love of God. It is a season of time - an opportunity of kairos - where we can do a self evaluation and undertake a spiritual operation transformation.

We are given the opportunity to focus on
(a) a time for Prayer - a time to enter into a dialogue with God; when we can make the time to allow God speak to us, and for us to speak to God.
(b) a time for Fasting - a time to look at our lives and instead of giving up some luxury in our life like chocolate perhaps to do a more serious review and ask ourselves what do I really need versus what do I want?
(c) a time for Solidarity - this has generally been expressed as charity and alms giving but perhaps their are other ways we can explore to express our solidarity with some one, and instead of giving money maybe give of our time?

During the Ash Wednesday service, usually a minister or priest marks the sign of the cross on a person's forehead with ashes saying "Repent and believe the Good News" or "Remember you are dust and unto dust you will return". In Jewish and Christian history, ashes are a sign of mortality and repentance. Mortality, because when we die, our bodies eventually decompose and we become dust/ dirt/ash/whatever. Repentance, because long ago, when people felt remorse for something they did, they would put ashes on their head and wear "sackcloth" (scratchy clothing) to remind them that sin is pretty uncomfortable and leads to a sort of death of the spirit. This was their way of confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness. We get ashes for Ash Wednesday by saving the palms from Palm Sunday, burning them, and mixing them with a little water (like tears) or oil. It's symbolic but as with all symbols if we give ourselves the time to reflect and dwell on it; to make karios instead of rushing for chronos .

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