LENT - FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - 10TH FEB 2008.

The image of Jesus wandering along in the wilderness, (captured in this peaceful image here on the sanctuary, taken from the Lenten reflection book)…….is a very powerful one, and also a very peaceful one. Jesus looks so serene…. so peaceful…..   so “at one” with everything…………..

 

Jesus, always “at one” with the Father, and “at one” with the Creation he rejoiced in (He was present at the dawn of creation as “the eternal Word of God,”)…..    in the beginning of creation……God “spoke the word, and so it was”…..  Jesus is THE WORD uttered by the Father, and the word became flesh and dwelt in communion with God’s creation, ………calling us all into perfect unity with God and each-other and all of creation….

 

{[Saturday:  The wonderful celebration of Baptism we have tonight, the baptism of Andrew John, is a celebration of our communion with God…. in Baptism, we are united to God, through Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit…  we are made children of God… brought into God’s inner life….    brought into a communion of life and love, that lasts a lifetime and beyond, into eternal life…..   we live the rest of our lives living the reality of that communion with God, with each other (as brothers and sisters IN Christ) and with creation…  so how we treat the environment is also an important factor of our discipleship, just as how we treat our fellow person….  ]}

 

In lent, we think about ways we can do fasting, penance and acts of charity… in order to foster and deepen that communion we share with God and each other and all of creation….in england, some bishops suggested a novel form of fasting that reflects the fact that we live in an ecological and modern age….

 

Rather than cut back on the more traditional sweets and treats for Lent, two bishops in England invited the public to take part in a “carbon fast” for the next 40 days.

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, said in their invitation Tuesday that those taking part can choose how they reduce their carbon footprint on a daily basis.

“For example, on the first day, people can take out one of their light bulbs and whenever they go to turn that light on, and it doesn’t work, they can remember why they are fasting from carbon—to help the poor of the world. At the end of the fast they can replace it with an energy-saving light bulb,” Jones explained. Other activities could include avoiding plastic bags and insulating the house.

The bishops said they had launched the carbon fast because of the urgent need to cut emissions and protect poor communities, who are already being affected by climate change and will be the worst hit in the future.

“There’s a moral imperative on those of us who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption,”

                                                    

Whether we engage in “carbon fasting,” or ordinary fasting, or other acts of self-denial, Christ calls us to remember that its not what we do but what we hope God will do in us through this fasting and penance….    the goal of any fasting or penance is to deepen in us, God’s passions….. God’s desires for the world…. our prayer, penance and fasting will be a success if it draws us into actively helping to work towards working for justice, practically offering assistance to the poor and needy, and lifting unfair burdens from people around us…..  

 

One traditional way Catholics have importantly helped foster this during lent, and all year around too, is people’s support of Caritas, the catholic organization working with communities in need. Thanks to all who support this wonderful and practical way of assisting those most in need.