Blessings from the vicarage

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Hasn’t it been wonderful to see the snowdrops, narcissi and crocus bursting through the ground and bringing the promise of Spring and warmer weather? When we chose the front cover photograph it seemed to bring a lift to our day and a smile to our faces, which is why the parish magazine team chose it – so it hopefully has the same effect for you all!

To me, it seems that creation holds so much within it, and when it bursts forth in Spring with its often-radiant energy, it seems to bring health in body, mind and spirit! The dormancy of Winter seems like creations’ ‘fast’ before the awakening and the release of life, abundance and goodness in Spring… So, in some ways it seems strange that as we come into Spring (which is after-all what the word ‘Lent’ means), that one of the key disciplines that Christians observe during Lent is fasting (the other disciplines being studying/reflecting on the Bible, praying, penance and almsgiving). It would appear that as Creations’ fast is over, ours starts from Ash Wednesday (5th March)!

Fasting can be observed for a number of reasons – it can be about:

• preparing for spiritually journeying with Jesus through Holy Week and Easter

• demonstrating devotion to God

• awakening a deeper consciousness of spirituality/connectedness

• refraining from eating meat on Fridays

• eliminating a food/alcohol for the season for health or resilience reasons

Most of these types of fasting are personal and, whilst generally good for oneself, might not have much of a positive effect on others. However, there are other ways of fasting too, the upshot of which can be profoundly healing and helpful for those around you. Here are some suggestions written by Pope Francis:

• Fast from hurting words and only say kind words

• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude

• Fast from anger and be filled with patience

• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope

• Fast from worries and have trust in God

• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity

• Fast from pressure and be prayerful

• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy

• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others

• Fast from grudges and be reconciled

• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen

I believe if more people understood and tried these as a discipline for this Lent, (rather than just giving up chocolate, wine or biscuits) then hopefully when the joy of Easter comes, those people who have been hurt by the anger and unkindness of others; those held in the grip of anxiety and depression caused by a lack of compassion; those who have lost faith or never known it because God’s love has not been readily given; those in poverty caused by greed and selfishness; those who have been excluded due to resentment and grudges; those who in grief, bereavement and sadness because of non-listening - hopefully, these precious people, like Creation may be released and burst forth with new radiant energy, having known the abundance of God’s love and goodness…

With love and prayers,

Jane