Lent

The day is come, the accepted day
When grace like nature flowers anew;
Trained by thy hand the surer way
Rejoice we in our spring-time too.

Push away the Lenten gloom
that says this is the season
for trudging through the mud of life,
to reach the far off Promised Land, 
Take a bowl of truth
and place within the palm cross
that has been held up over your daily life, 
and slowly crush your sins.
Stir in the pure olive of God’s grace.
Let the cross of ash be for your healing, 
as well as an outward sign 
of your repentance,
and a pointer for your journey.
Let the Spring – signs that burst
through the cold crusty earth,
help you to burst open your secrets 
to a forgiving Lord
and push through the dark earth
to the warming light.
Spring flowers will not wait until Easter
to speak of new life.
Lent is not a season for long-faced plodding, 
or bemoaning how your petty fast feels;
but a time to leap …. take risks,
look outside your narrow vision, 
to see Christ bid you onwards
both to the Hill and to the Tomb beyond
to experience death and resurrection Now!

This reflection was inspired by the 6th century hymn above.
Fr Colin Sutton

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Into Silence

Rarely an escape from all noise 
but entering into an inner stillness;
where God may have space to enter
and embrace your whole self.

You may not ‘feel’ any different.
You are not aiming to ‘hear’ the voice of God 
in your head or have a low-rate vision.
You are not asking for the birth of a wonderful
insight or the sudden sorting out of a 
prevailing problem.
You are simply creating a space,
and eliminating some of the distractions
that would keep your mind ruminating.

You are not seeking to create a white board
for God to write on,
and certainly not in mystical search for a higher plane.
Your feet are firmly rooted to the ground,
your hands open in welcome,
your breathing (through the nose) at its usual 
relaxed rate,
your eyes closed and muscles relaxed -
and yet you are sitting in an attentive position.

Most important is your desire
to freely offer this time and space to God
without any demand for a ‘result’.
Many people find a repeated prayer
helps to keep the mind focused, and its
rhythm has a wonderful calming effect.
Try: Jesus Saviour (breathe in),  Jesus Lord (breathe out).

Try this for five minutes before or after 
a time of prayer – or before a ‘busy’ service begins.
Increase the time, as you feel drawn to 
savour this special time – quality time for you and God.
At the end give thanks for the gift
of this space and look forward to the next time
into stillness and silence.

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