Lent a Time of Prayer and Self Examination

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs for 40 days (not counting Sundays) up to Easter and is a time for Christians to prepare for Easter.  This traditionally means self examination and repentance in order to engage more fully the resurrection life of Christ celebrated on Easter.  Repentance means to turn 180 degrees and to stop walking away from the love of God.  Resistance to God's love and reluctance to allow it to envelop us is sometimes deep rooted.  Indeed the story of Christ's arrest, trial and crucifiction bears testament to the lengths we will go to resist God's love.  Lent is a time to engage our resistance to the light and with God's help, take down the barriers that obstruct the glory of God in our hearts.

 "We Want Barabbas" 

 Honore Daumier (1808-1879)