Don’t wait till Wednesday!

Lent is breathing down our necks. It is very nearly here- and the wise Christian should be preparing themselves ahead of Ash Wednesday, that we might hit the floor running! So how do we observe a good and holy Lent? How to ensure a joyful time of meditation, reflection and penitence, rather than a miserable, half hearted lull during which we simply ignore chocolate! The purpose of Lent is spiritual renewal and not healthy eating…though most of the Western world forgets this. What is the point of giving up something if we move no closer to Christ? So let us focus on the spiritual and not the physical during Lent 2009.

Of course keeping Lent will be different for everyone, and each will have their own traditions. But if you are looking for direction here is a little checklist to help:

Extra Devotion: Take up an extra service each week and really focus when in attendance. At S. Barnabas it is being suggested that the ‘Stations of the Cross’ on Sunday Evenings offer the perfect opportunity.

Clear your diary: during Holy Week NOW. It is a week when you will be giving quality time to God. I strongly believe that attendance at the WHOLE Triduum- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday night (or Dawn on Easter Sunday) is an absolute minimum. If you profess to love Christ but cannot even be in attendance when the church proclaims his death and resurrection, what does that say about your faith? Be there….it WILL make a difference to your spiritual life.

Extra reading: I suggest swapping the novel for something devotional. At S. Barnabas we will be offering you the usual ‘Walk with me’ study books, but you might also consider reading a whole Gospel, or just the Passion narratives, or something else. (Last year I used ‘Lent with Benedict’ available on Amazon) or any other useful book. Additionally you might watch Jesus of Nazareth or the Passion on television.

Extra penitence: Make sure you go to confession. EVERY Christian should. Be nice to your priest and book your confession early. And then spend genuine time preparing. Why not list sins against God, self and neighbour separately?

Extra giving: Give money to charity. At S. Barnabas you will be offered a money box in aid of the ‘Additional Curate’s Society’ but any charity will do. Perhaps it is time to renew your giving or consider where your resources will go when you die. Are you considering your church family in your will as well as your nuclear family?

These are just a start. But they do show us that Lent is a glorious opportunity for us all. I bet there is not one reader who could not benefit from some spiritual renewal at this time. So as we continue to struggle as Christians in an often hostile world, let us spend time with the source of our strength, our hope, our joy and our Salvation.