Clergy Notes — Sunday, February 2, 2020
I don’t know about you, but I have been more aware than ever this year of the dark mornings and early sunsets. Although the shortest day was actually December 21st, the winter nights till seem very long. This is why I am looking forward to Lent! The word “lent” comes from an Old English version of the verb “to lengthen.” It reminds us of the approach of springtime and celebrates the fact that as Easter gets nearer, we finally experience lighter and longer days.
Lent begins liturgically on Ash Wednesday, when we begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. They speak of the frailty and uncertainty of human life. They are also an ancient expression of penitence. I encourage you to be at Mass on that important day.
Our Lent course this year focuses on four questions, all looking at aspects of the Christian faith from the point of view of truth. We begin with scripture itself and then move on to the divinity of Christ and the nature of the Resurrection. Our final session will consider the Second Coming. We will learn about the nature of metaphor. We will see what we can learn from a study of poetry, imagery and myth. We will come to understand that something may not be historically accurate but is still profoundly and deeply true.
Details of the four sessions are given in this bulletin, along with dates, times, and location. Please join us – bringing your bibles, questions and thoughts.
Father Neil Gray