Calendar

Lent 2016

Dear Friends in Christ,

A 5th century bishop wrote, "Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. Let us offer our souls in by means of fasting. There is nothing more pleasing that we can offer to God, as the psalmist says; 'God does not despise a bruised and humbled heart.'" He goes on, "Offer your soul to God, make an oblation of your fasting . . ."

Beloved, what if our focus during this season of Lent was an offering up of that interior place where we meet God: our very souls, our heart of hearts? This is the place that resides deeper than your thoughts and your emotions, the place where you are you the most. What if that place became an offering to God?

And what kind of fasting would bring this about? Sacrifices of food, TV, or other pleasures we would miss. We may sacrifice the attachments that we notice have become idols, to be torn down, for they have taken a place in our inner lives that belongs only to Jesus. Holding our souls in light of his presence unafraid, resting in his love, and waiting for his response to our prayers is how we make this offering to God.

The bishop I mentioned above is Bishop Peter Chrysologus (born 424 AD in Ravenna and died in 450 AD). Around this kind of fasting and offering St Peter Chrysologus says, "Add to your fasting, Mercy. Fasting bears no fruit without being watered by mercy. . . Mercy is to fasting as rain is to the earth. However much you may cultivate your heart, clear the soil of your nature, root out vices, and sow virtues, if you do not release the springs of mercy, your fasting will bear no fruit."

What are the disciplines that will help us get to the place where we regularly offer up our souls to God and release our lives into the practices of Mercy? Do we enter Lent thinking about what vices need to be rooted out? Are we meditating on the virtues that need to grow in our lives?

We are called, in the great tradition of the church, to give ourselves to keep a Holy Lent.

Today God is waiting for us to ask for His mercy afresh in our souls, so that our lives may overflow with mercy.

A Blessed Lent to each of you this year,

Yours In Christ arms,

Revd. Jackan Waweru.