Pause for Thought From Reverend Aubin de Gruchy
Ash Wednesday marks the day when Christians set out on the long pilgrimage to Easter.
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “You must change your hearts—for the kingdom of Heaven has arrived.”
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– Matthew 4:17 J.B. Phillips New Testament It’s time to do things the right way, God’s way. It’s time for Good news and this is the good news. Now hopefully moving beyond the pandemic and a cold winter here in the UK, we long for spring and signs of new life. We long for signs of an end to the war in Ukraine and peace in our troubled world. Those signs of renewed hope. Those early signs of spring – the longer days – the daffodils and crocuses starting to bloom. On the one hand, Lent reminds us of the temptations Jesus faced as he set about his ministry, and we face as we try to live our lives. His temptations included that of being a material provider - providing everything people want rather than need the temptation to be an entertainer doing miraculous, incredible things, and then the temptation to do things by force and take control of the world, the latter temptation so relevant to world leaders today.
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Lent, however, can also be a spiritual springtime, a new beginning; a season where we turn or return to the Lord. This is the call of the prophet Joel: 12
ut there’s also this, it’s not too late— B GOD’s personal Message!— “Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!” Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to GOD, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now, maybe he’ll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all’s said and done, there’ll be blessings full and robust for your GOD!
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– Joel 2:12 1 4 The Message
