Lent 2004

21 February 2004

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

On Wednesday, with the blessing of ashes, we begin the season of Lent – 40 days of renewal leading to the celebration of Easter. Lent is sometimes described as a journey. As we begin that journey, what do we hope to find at the end of it? What do hope to become as we journey together?

As we are marked with the ashes on Wednesday, we listen to the words – turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. These words are addressed to us first of all as members of a community rather than individuals. Our renewal is something we do together. Whatever the individual person undertakes as a Lenten practice, it is not done for himself or herself but for the good of the community – the Church. Lent is saying to us – be more faithful to the Gospel as the Church, the living body of Christ.

Recently I wrote to the priests of our diocese about the number of Masses we celebrate on a Sunday and to look with you at the affect this has on our parish communities. The reason for my request is not simply because we have fewer priests (this is true and we need to pray and encourage more vocations to the priesthood) but because too many Masses fragment the community and prevent us from being a 'communion'.

We are a community with a mission to proclaim, celebrate and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to be a people who look outward to the world not to be inwardly gazing at ourselves and our needs. There is a temptation to do this when it is not easy to live our faith in a society which in many ways regards the Church as irrelevant. There is not so much hostility to the Church today as indifference.

Lent is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of what it is to be the Church. We do so through three well known and tested practices – prayer, fasting and giving to those in need. The three go together.

In prayer, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we hear God our Father in the voice of Jesus. Our lives are transfigured as we listen to the voice of the Beloved Son. Through fasting we become more aware of our sisters and brothers who are in need and we respond to that need by generous giving.

This Lent Pope John Paul has asked us to be more aware of the thousands of children who are exploited by adults through such things as child labour and the abuse of children for adult pleasure. CAFOD is waging a campaign over the exploitation of children as cheap labour, in particular those working in very poor conditions to produce parts for computers which are then sold to an affluent western society.

Within your parish, you may like to adopt a special Lenten project with which everyone can identify and then bring in procession to the Mass of the Lords Supper on Maundy Thursday, whatever you have saved through self denial.

Lent leads us to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus breaks down the barriers of individualism and prejudice so that enemies can be reconciled and love one another. This is the power of God who comes to heal and enables us, 'to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who treat us badly'. As Lent begins we are taught in the Gospel today, 'that the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.'

May God be with us and bless us all as we set out on this journey of renewal.

With my best wishes and prayers
Bishop of Clifton

To be read and made available in all Churches and Chapels in the Diocese on the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 21 and 22 February 2004