The Dawn of 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 springtime 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 compassionate, forgiving Lord and push through the dark earth to the warming light of his transforming love. 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 turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel- to experience death and resurrection Now! by C. S. Inspired by the sixth century Office Hymn |
Malcolm Guite (born 1957)
Concerning Ash Wednesday “Receive this cross of ash upon your brow Brought from the burning of Palm Sunday's cross; The forests of the world are burning now And you make late repentance for the loss. But all the trees of God would clap their hands, The very stones themselves would shout and sing, If you could covenant to love these lands And recognize in Christ their lord and king. He sees the slow destruction of those trees, He weeps to see the ancient places burn, And still you make what purchases you please And still to dust and ashes you return. But Hope could rise from ashes even now Beginning with this sign upon your brow.” From: The Word in the Wilderness |