The Franciscan priest John-Francis Friendship describes Lent as follows:

The Season of Lent (beginning with Ash Wednesday), Holy Week and Easter is of fundamental significance both in the Church and in our understanding of human life. For the pattern it presents holds before us the means whereby we can live life to the full in the way that God intended. It reminds us, in a startling way, that pain and loss are inevitable part of what it means to be human, and the integration of this reality in our lives is the means whereby we discover the fullness of our humanity.

On Wednesday 22 February, we had our Ash Wednesday Eucharists with the imposition of ashes. The first reading was from Joel 2:12- 18:

Yet even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning,

rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,

and relents from punishing.

Lent is about love. It is also an opportunity to consider our relationship with ourselves, God, and our neighbour. We are created by the love of God, who says, “you are precious in my sight and honoured, and I love you" (Isaiah 43:4a). God's love embraces us with our beauty, frailty, strength, and weaknesses.

God’s love for us could be described as love with ashes: a love that speaks the truth and holds us accountable for our actions. The call to repentance in the message for Lent is to turn from our separate selves, from our sin, to come together in community.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN