Thought for the Week - 15-2-2024
It’s been a busy week for me. On Tuesday we held the annual memorial service on the anniversary of the Massacre of Glencoe.
Ash Wednesday saw us gathered in St John’s Ballachulish to start the journey through Lent.
And today, our small but faithful congregation will be at St Mary’s Glencoe as we are every Thursday.
Despite it being Lent, there will be cake afterwards in the church hall for those who want it.
I don’t make a habit of celebrating Holy Communion every day at 11am but this week, thanks to the quirks of the calendar, I will do so three days in a row. Almost like a mini-Triduum, this Trinity of Eucharists coincides with the start of Lent and has given me an unusually disciplined start to my Lenten journey.
I’ve never been a great fan of discipline and following a fast like giving up chocolate or alcohol has always seemed like a trial that will inevitably result in my failure. I have nothing but respect for those who can hold themselves to such esoteric practices but they’re really not for me. It’s not that I’m so weak willed that I can’t forgo regular sugar hits for a couple of weeks. Rather, I find such abstinence doesn’t deepen my devotion to God, much less improve my character.
For me, Lent is about improving my relationship with God by taking the time to deepen it. Daily prayer is a part of my life anyway, but I often use this time of year as a prompt to read a theological or Biblical book.
I’d love to celebrate Holy Communion every day but that’s not practical in my circumstances. Perhaps when I retire…
I offer you the challenge of a simple Lenten discipline that puts God at the centre of your thoughts without the difficulty of self-denial.
Try setting aside five minutes each day to say The Lord’s Prayer slowly and contemplatively, or the Hail Mary, or the Ash Wednesday collect, or whatever works for you. That way, you can strengthen your spiritual discipline and eat cake too.
Reverend Amanda Fairclough, Priest in Charge, West Highland Region, Scottish Episcopal Church.
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