Brother William Meninger was a Trappist monk in Colorado.   I’m starting with his work, as a way into Lent: because so much of lenten material deal with Sin.  And Sin is a human reality and a theological concept often complex, or so overly simplistic, that we all get hurt.

According to Fr William, he helpfully believes that there is only one sin: and that is to be unloving.  Unloving to the Planet: to one another: to ourselves.  He explains “When Jesus was asked what was this greatest commandment, he said, ‘Love the Lord you God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbour as your self.  So, it there’s only one great commandment, then there’s only one sin: that this is to violate the one commandment which is to be unloving.”

I wonder if you find that as helpful as I do?

Each week as part of a Service there is a moment to recollect and find reconciliation.  We are a forgiven peoples; and part of that forgiveness empowers us to live Jesus’ Grace in the world.  A declaration of forgiveness is a declaration to action, to bring Grace to LIFE in our small corner of the world.  This is the nature of repentance.  In turning towards Jesus we are, by action, turn away from sin. So the gift of Lent, is to walk more closely with Jesus. Keeping our hearts open to the Spirit…and Responding by continually turning towards God.

Thomas Merton, back in the 1960’s is quoted as saying “Human nature is not evil.  All pleasure is not wrong.  The doctrine of original sin does not mean that human nature has been complete corrupted and that humankind’s freedom is always inclined to sin.  Humankind is neither a devil or an angel.  Humankind is not a pure spirit, but a being of flesh and spirit, subject to error and malice, but basically inclined to seek truth and goodness….[the human] heart responds to the goodness and to the needs of our fellow humans.

The Contemplative practice of prayer, reading, reading scripture and being in nature are the bed rock of Lenten activities.  But remember also, the greatest commandments: ‘Love the Lord you God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbour as your self.’  To love God…  that’s the bit we forget if we get caught in ‘to-do’ lists or Lenten Rules that are unhinged to prayer.  As our reading from genesis shows us, God’s heart wants to dwell with us.

Gavin T Murphy in his book “Bursting our on Praise: Spirituality and Mental Health” says “too many of us learn to ‘love’ distress and anxiety: we say it is the way of work, and the world.  Just five minutes of silences seems pointless.  But we get in touch with the ‘inner teacher’ when we find times to be still in our day; connecting us with deep peace and balance.  It is available to be tapped into as we live in the moment; talking to people, working on tasks, walking with a fresh breeze on our faces, even running.”  He goes on to say that after resting in God, we may be invited to walk more closely with Jesus, and be freer and more confident and better able to manage and navigate the often hazy pathways of life.  

Lent is a gift.  As you contemplate the lent Action this week of  ‘considering transport’ … I wonder if each journey you take becomes a moment of encounter….  Amen.