Thoughts on Lent - 4 February 2008

Wednesday this week sees the beginning of Lent, a word that apparently derives from the lengthening days of spring. It’s a season that has fallen into disuse in many churches, but has begun somewhat of a revival with the growing interest in ‘spiritual worship’ around the Holy Spirit’s work in Christians. And Lent can be a great time to begin to invest in one’s faith by developing or re-gaining good habits.

For example, we know we ought to read the bible and pray every day – but those habits can easily get lost with the business and distractions of everyday life. Whole weeks may go by when one forgets to read the bible. And prayer too may get squeezed. Then there is the tendency for church to become an option. The average English congregation on a Sunday is now around two thirds of the total people who appear over a month, implying that some weeks, people find other things more interesting or important than meeting with fellow Christians.

Maybe this year we should not give up something for Lent, but decide that we are going to invest in our faith. Why not, this Lent period, resolve we will read the bible a little each day, that we will take time to talk with God? Maybe that way our faith will become more vital to us. And maybe our churches will become more important if we followed the advice of the writer to Hebrews: “not to give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing” (Heb 10:25).

It’s worth a try!