This journal is an invitation to walk with Christ through the sacred rhythms of the liturgical year. As we enter the season of Lent, we are called to pause, reflect, and renew our hearts in anticipation of the Paschal mystery—Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Lent offers us forty days to examine our lives, to surrender what hinders our spiritual growth, and to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Those who are not yet in the Kingdom of God, may comment that faith is just a crutch for those who are not able to cope with life. However, to those of us who believe, our faith is a source of strength which equips us to traverse the different seasons of life and the challenges which come, with hope and joy, love and peace, even in the midst of trouble.
Sir Walter Raleigh wrote the poem ‘A Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage’ in 1618, the year he died. The themes in the first few lines, in many ways, sum up the key ingredients of our faith. This series over the next few weeks will consider these themes.
We live in a world of change and unpredictability. An unstable place affected by climate change, wars, political events and humanitarian crises.
The Roman world of Jesus and Paul was one in which it was believed that the actions of gods in the heavens above affected the earth below. So that if Zeus got angry, thunderbolts shot out. What happened in the heavens affected the earth below.
‘Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
We don’t like to admit it but Christianity may have proved to be a disappointment. Our coming to Jesus was genuine but there did not follow a radical transformation. Our life then is a like a jigsaw with lots of pieces missing. This is life without the Holy Spirit.
I guess if we are honest with ourselves we all probably have a fear of one kind or another. Snakes, spiders or things that go bump in the night, small spaces, water etc. It is often the unknown that holds us in its grip and we can be gripped by the fear of someone who is so above and beyond our understanding. This can be true of the Holy Spirit
In my years as a church leader I found that the Holy Spirit was often the person of the trinity who people found the hardest to understand and relate to. I found that some loving, committed and faithful Christians had even become fearful of the Holy Spirit and his work and ministry in our lives.
