The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday.
The Christian tradition has always taught that spiritual growth and development involves prayer, study and work. As with many things in life it is important that from time to time we review, take stock and reflect on who we are and our responsibility and place in God’s creation.
The season also provides us as a community of faith the time for repentance and recreation. One of the differences it seems to me at the present time between those of Christian faith and the wider secular world is the notion that we are the forgiven and yet broken people of God. The Christian understanding of justice in our community is not about revenge or punishment but about forgiveness and restoration.
This is not to say that people should not make amends for crime or mistakes. It is often I know difficult to reconcile the act of a crime and justice for the victim, but it is not helpful when political and community leaders seek to raise fear among the populace, ignore facts and fail to understand the importance of rehabilitation and treatment for offenders and long term social cohesion in our life together.Jesus the victim of our brokenness is the one who forgives and provides the model for our life together.
During this season of Lent it is my prayer and hope that you will avail yourself of the Sunday Taize meditations, the Wednesday Eucharist’s and the reading of Mark’s Gospel as your Lenten discipline.
Shalom Ray