What are you giving up for Lent? Many people have traditions they follow year in year out. Lent is one of the seasons that people use to focus and reflect on their own lives. Whilst this is a good thing and a useful practice, it should also be a time when we reflect upon the world around us and indeed the world as a whole. If you follow the traditions of Ash Wednesday, then you probably will have eaten pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?
It is a strange tradition that you eat what you can the day before you fast for the season, but it is a way of getting temptation out of the way – at least that is the way it used to be going back a few years. These days it doesn’t apply in quite the same way as our shops are full of everything that we want or we can afford to buy. Temptation is everywhere, not least in the number of adverts that are thrown at us from every direction. We cannot go anywhere without seeing a sign at the side of the road, hearing something on the radio or seeing an advert on TV or social media.
It takes a strong will to resist every which way we are drawn to better our lives in some form or another. If you are giving up something during Lent I hope you have the courage not to give in. All this is a reminder of everything that Jesus Christ went through and the suffering he experienced in the sacrifice he made for each one of us. He continued on his journey despite the ridicule and abuse he encountered – steadfast and sure. Let’s hope we can do the same in the season of Lent!
I wish you God’s love and peace.
Revd Graham
