Ash Wednesday. The start of Lent. A time of pilgrimage, prayer, fasting; of sorrow for the sufferings of our broken world and our broken selves. A time also of anticipation and hope; of challenge – that we, in our brokenness, can become part of the solution.
At our wedding, Justin Duckworth, Bishop of Wellington, blessed us with this Franciscan blessing. It seems a good one to adopt for this season.
As you travel the journey ahead…
May you hear the whisper of God’s Fatherly voice guiding you to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family of faith.
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you will live deeply and from the heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and the exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those that mourn, so that you will reach out your hand to them and turn their mourning into joy.
May God bless you with just enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do those things that others say cannot be done.
And May you know the love, joy and freedom that is your inheritance as the children of the Living God.
Amen