Text for the Month
Return to the Lord, who will have mercy; to our God, who will richly pardon.
Isaiah 55
St. Benedict, in his Rule for monks, encourages them to live every day with the spirit of Lent. To some, that might sound like a dreadful prospect! But perhaps that is because we often misunderstand what Lent truly is - and what it is not. As we step into this sacred season once again, it’s worth reflecting: what does Lent mean to us?
At its heart, Lent invites us to ask a fundamental question: What is at the center of our lives? What do we build our days around? What holds the greatest influence over us?
Some attachments are obvious - drugs, alcohol, gambling - and the great Lenten go-to: chocolate! But then, there are the less obvious ones: materialism, the need for approval, the endless pull of screens and entertainment, the pursuit of power and status. The good opinion of others at the expense of genuine self-worth. The list is long, and only we can examine our own hearts honestly.
What would be truly difficult for us to give up?
I have often said that God must be at the centre of our lives. When we align our hearts with His, we open ourselves to His grace, His life, His love. That is why Lent is not meant to be a time of gloom - it is an opportunity. A joyful return to the source of our existence. A spiritual reset. A chance to examine our walk with God, our relationship with Jesus, and our love for our neighbours.
How are we doing? Where do we feel distant from God? Where have we strayed? What burdens do we need to surrender, so that we can turn back to Him - the source of light, life, healing, and forgiveness?
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near.
Let the wicked abandon their ways,
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Return to the Lord, who will have mercy;
to our God, who will richly pardon.
- Isaiah 55
May this Lent be a season of grace for you. May it be a time of renewal, of rediscovering God’s love, and of returning home to Him. Blessings on your Lenten journey!
Father Tim Handley, Vicar St. James’s Church, Sussex Gardens