Rev James Hanson, Vicar, Burpham Church

Most of my former career was in schools, and Lent often brought about a question: what are you going to give up this season? Normally, I would have said chocolate, sweets, takeaways or something that had been nagging me to change my lifestyle to be a bit healthier.

One Easter day, having given up chocolate for Lent, I ended up gorging on Easter eggs (who wouldn’t??) on Easter Sunday, and then found I ate more chocolate afterwards than before, so it really didn’t help! But, over time, I worked out that this wasn’t about a stark choice: what to abruptly give up, but more what to gently lay down, or perhaps even what to take up. These days, I usually take a complete pause (fast) from social media. It boosts my mental health enormously, frees up hours each week from doom-scrolling, and gives me a new purpose that is screen-free. I am enriched through prayer, meditation and just being with Jesus. Maybe I could do more of that full-time?

Lent begins on the 5th March on a day we call Ash Wednesday. It marks that period of Jesus life on earth where he went into the wilderness, and was tempted in every way. We know from the gospel accounts of this period of life that he demonstrated his full humanity (being tempted in every way, he knows what human pain looks like, and felt every human emotion). He also showed us his full divinity, being the only one able to resist temptation, because his purpose was to do the will of his Father. Lent so often looks like a dark and penitential season in the life of the church and community – it is still winter, days are slowly lengthening and we may be called to mirror this wilderness period in our own reflective journies of faith. Perhaps it causes us to take a good look at ourselves and decide now is the time to make a change. After new attempts to join a gym post Christmas, dry January or the like – Lent could feel very depressing and hard work. Yet, I think most of us can miss the point of what Lent ought to be.

For me, it is a period of waiting. A bit like the season leading to Christmas. We hang purple colours in church as a mark of waiting for the King. Lent should be a time not to beat ourselves up about the things we get wrong, but actually to seek to free ourselves up from the distractions of this world – but creating time and space are two of the hardest challenges of life. My Lent challenge to all is to try to create that space and time again, to ponder the big questions of life; to stop and enjoy family and friends even more, being present for them. And to reflect deeply on the life of Jesus who entered this world for each and every one of us; ultimately dying for us on that first good Friday, before he conquered death once for all – that we might be free to live with him forever. It is a bit like the dawn of a new day – where light is coming onto the horizon, and we know that all will be well.

Blessings, Rev James

Church Office: 01483 825533
www.burphamchurch.org.uk