Today is the beginning of Lent, the day more traditional churches remember as ‘Ash Wednesday’.
On Ash Wednesday Christians have ashes sprinkled on their foreheads to remind them of their mortality (as if I need another reminder right now another after shock, a 4.3, has hit as I am writing this).
Ash Wednesday helps us be aware of the frailty that is inherent in our very nature so that we can begin to follow Jesus on the road toward Easter. The road on which we are invited to carry our own cross and the road that leads to new resurrection life. It seems we are all vividly aware of our mortality after two big earthquakes, grieving friends and families around us, and seemingly endless aftershocks. Ash Wednesday begins the lent journey from with this sense of mortality and fraility.
During Lent we remember Jesus walking this road and ask how we can companion Jesus as he looked toward his death and trusted in the promises of God.
To help remind ourselves of the struggle and suffering of Jesus own road people often give something up as a practical way of saying to ourselves and God we want to follow Jesus. This year we have had so much taken from us it might be better to focus on one thing we have already lost, like a flush toilet, and ask God to make this part of our reminder of the painful road Jesus choose to walk for us.
We have two books of daily readings available for Lent this year.
The first is a set of daily readings by Maggi Dawn called ‘Giving it up’ which are available from the Media room or church office for $20 and secondly a pocket sized set of daily readings from World Vision also available for $2 from the church office or media room.
Or you might like to try listening to a 12 minute a day reading and reflection at http://pray-as-you-go.org
How about taking this pre-Easter period as a time to do some regular bible reading and prayer....
