Ash Wednesday: the 40 day journey begins

....for in these forty days you lead us into the desert of repentance that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline we may grow in grace and learn to be your people once again. (Proper Preface for Lent, Common Worship). 

Christians journey in Lent towards the Cross and Resurrection. We recall the forty year pilgrimage of the ancient people of Israel, between slavery in Egypt and the security of the promised land. It was a prolonged time in the wilderness, the desert, with little water, food or resources. But in the poverty of that sojourn the people learned of God's covenant with them, revealed at Mt Sinai. So may our Lenten discipline renew our faith in the promise of salvation.
Lord, free us from falling into the sin of believing that the slavery in Egypt is better than the struggles in the desert. (A prayer from Nicaragua) 
 

 

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