Bright Sadness
Lent begins tomorrow. It is a season of, what the Orthodox call, 'bright sadness.' St Benedict, in chapter 49 of his rule, calls monks (the faithful) to live a continuous Lent. He acknowledges that this will be almost impossible for most, but he is calling us to live attentively to God, looking to him for a conversion of our hearts. As a season, it is a gift to the church to seek to live a deeper faith in Christ through reading scripture, spending time in prayer, and words and works that seek justice for especially the marginalised. I regularly pray the prayer of St Ephrem during this season. It catches it's spirit and my heart's desire perfectly.