It’s been good tonight to lead a Lent group in Bishop Monkton on forsakenness. I’d forgotten, as I haven’t done many groups in recent years due to the blessed Covid, how much I come alive writing and discussing theology. We did some deep stuff tonight.
We got on to times we have felt forsaken by the Church and we joked about abstaining from Church in order to meet Christ again. Radical stuff! But are there times Church is bad for us, and do we need to give up bad habits? It’s sad some Christians only do discussion groups in Lent.
Giving up things in Lent is meant to clear our minds and hearts to seek the things of above. It’s not about beating yourself up or saying how virtuous you are showing off to others, it is to get rid of all that hinders our discipleship. Maybe we give up in order to take on. What would doing that in your church do to it?
I like what Sarah Brown, the Dean at Hereford Cathedral has to say about abstaining:
“I have every admiration for those who give things up for Lent. Those approaching their second week of Lenten abstinence- particularly if you are fasting or giving up some kind of food or drink- may find strength and encouragement in the words and example of Radbod, Bishop of Utrecht from 899-917.
From the time of his consecration (and not just in Lent) the bishop never ate meat and frequently fasted for three or four days at a time so he may fairly be viewed as something of an authority on fasting as a spiritual discipline.
“Hunger and thirst O Christ for sight of thee come between me and all the feasts of earth.
Give thou thyself the bread, thyself the wine, thou, sole provision for the unknown way.
Long hunger wasted the world wanderer, with sight of thee may he be satisfied.”
So next time the fridge door, the cake tin or the wine bottle beckons…”
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