Enter the Mystery

In preparation for Ash Wednesday on March 2nd, Fr Colin Sutton takes us beyond the ritual and explores the challenge of Lent.

Turn away from sin 
and be faithful to the Gospel.

Turn away
from all thoughts,
attitudes and actions
contrary to the loving will of God.

Turn away
from all that separates us from God                                                                                                       and so seriously hinders our loving relationship with each other.                                                                       

And be faithful to the Gospel…
live according to the teaching of the Master. 
For Christ can bring healing
and a fresh start
through his total embrace
of sinful humanity on the cross.

See how Jesus shared the company
of those who others called ‘sinners’ 
Because, despite all their failings,
he recognised their desire to change
and start their lives again.

Are we
really looking at what we need to turn away from, or

are we
skimming the surface of our lives with just feeling sorry
and a pile of excuses –
It’s just my God given temperament, 
or the way I was brought up.

It will not be easy
to make the necessary changes
but that is why we are marked with the cross.
Not the cross of suffering
but of victory
through the death of Christ.

His grace
and only his grace
can set us free
and keep us
faithful to the Gospel.

As we wipe away
the symbolic ash of our repentance
so he can wipe away
our sins
and welcome us to rise and start again,
for his service is perfect freedom.

So this Lent let us join the company of
Peter, Zacchaeus, the repentant thief,
the woman accused of adultery,
and countless cross bearers,
and let Christ’s love cleanse and renew us
so that we may grow daily closer to Christ
and so show ever greater care and compassion
for our world and for each other,
as we both turn away from sin
and grow in faithfulness 
to the glorious gospel of Christ.     

And so the dust and ashes
will turn into the new life of the Risen Christ
and we will hear his welcome voice call us by our name
and empower us to go and share the amazing news:
I am Risen and I go before you.