Dear Friends,

The year hardly seems to have begun, but in February, we begin the Season of Lent, as we prepare ourselves to walk once more the way of the Cross and for the events of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Traditionally, it is a time for fasting, reflection and for repentance.

During Lent, we  have an opportunity to reflect on the lives we lead, by taking a good spiritual look at ourselves and if necessary to get rid of those things which get in the way of our corporate and personal relationship with Jesus. We might also want to spend time thinking about the way we serve him and how our faith impacts on those around us. The season also symbolises the time when Jesus was tempted for forty days and forty nights in the Judean Wilderness by the Devil, before he began his public ministry.

Part of my own Lenten observance is to think about the meaning of the cross and to reflect on the pain and suffering. Jesus went through before he died in order to bring about our undeserved salvation and forgiveness for our wrong-doing. In fact, one of my earliest memories of church is as a child of seven being unable to watch a film-strip of the Crucifixion, with the rest of my Sunday School. I found Jesus’ death just too distressing to watch.

I did not then have a theological understanding of why Jesus had to die in such a horrible way. Now, I realise that it was there on the cross that Jesus revealed his great love for the world. By dieing and rising again to new life three days later, he not only enabled our wrong doing to be forgiven but he also restored humanity’s broken relationship with God and for each of us, if we choose to believe in him, to receive the free gift of eternal life.  

By the end of Lent, may our faith be strengthened and renewed, as we enter into the events of Jesus’ passion and get ready to give thanks for and to marvel at his glorious resurrection on Easter Day.     

God bless,

Andrew