“Here we are, you and I, and, I hope, also a third who is Christ”. – Aelred of Rievaulx
On this first day of Lent I invite you to pause, to take a few breaths to breathe in some stillness. Hear our breath, for this moment we are alive. We are filled with Spirit. As we prepare for our Lenten journey, let us make an intention for this journey. How do you want to grow? Where do you want to seek God in your daily round? Do you need to let things go, and have some meditation or scripture time? Do you want to study the Scriptures, or a theological work? Think about one intention, that you will focus on for the next 40 days, and a plan as to how you may make that happen.
For me, I have always been inspired to read Dante’s Divine Comedy, but I never seem to be able to completely follow through. My intention is to read through Inferno and Purgatorio through the course of Lent, and reflect on biblical themes. If you are wiling to share your intention, please comment below.
As we start our journey, may we now prepare to pray in unity:
“Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession saying. “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. (Daniel 9:3-5)
Bring us back O God, to focus on divine things and beyond our earthly horizons. You remind us that we are ‘but dust and to dust we shall return’, but for now your Spirit breathes within us. Help us to slow down, to look to you, to seek to deepen our understanding and experience of you Eternal God in our lives. Today as we take the first steps on our journey, give us enough light to illuminate the next part of our journey. Together we pray… Amen.