NOT A POPULAR IDEA...

As I write this, we’ve just had Ash Wednesday. (Er, Pardon?). The beginning of Lent (groan...). Probably, of all the events in the traditional Christian diary, this one arouses the least enthusiasm. Which is a pity, because it’s a muscle-building exercise. It’s completely unreasonable, of course. You choose something in your life that you really, really love, and give it up for six weeks. Since we’re all brought up by the media to believe that the main goal of life is self-fulfilment, this sounds incredibly daft. Nowadays Christians tend to explain it by saying that it’s good for your soul, it strengthens your willpower, and didn’t Jesus say we’d got to deny ourselves (unfortunately He meant all the time, not just six weeks)? All very true; but there’s more to it than that.

First of all, the practice of Lent only arose after Christianity became an established religion, with all the temptations of power and compromise. It was an act of protest: we’re not Christians because the State says so, or because it’s socially acceptable, or is somehow good for us. We’re here for God’s sake, and if there’s no God, there’s no point.

Lent also commemorates Christ’s Temptation in the desert after His baptism (now there’s a challenge for Baptists!). Just imagine it. Here’s a man who has just had a big experience offering limitless possibilities - He’s got infinite power – He can really do anything! Talk about winning the Lottery! This can be self-fulfilment on a grand scale. But he’s also got a world-vision – one that has ruined countless men from Nebuchadnezzar to Adolf Hitler. Or is He just imagining it? A man needs proof, doesn’t he? Now most of us have had the experience of being so absorbed in something that we’ve missed a meal, even when someone has called “Grub up!”. By comparison with His, which was cosmic in scope, our greatest concerns are peanuts. And nothing, but nothing must distract Him from sorting this one out. So the hours went by, the days, till suddenly hunger breaks in, and self-fulfilment seems reasonable enough. But no, He has got to get something clear from His God first, even if His life’s at stake… Nothing else matters more than God; if there’s no God, does anything really matter? It may sound weird, but for at least once in life, though on a smaller scale, that is a typical Christian experience. And Lent can be a practice run for it.

John Peck

Poem by John Peck for Mothering Sunday

Life’s first intimation orders my surrender to pain;

There is but one thing to be said: ‘Be it according to Your Word’.

From motherhood’s first moment comes surrender of my flesh and blood to make a rebel being, saying,

‘Did you not know, Mother, that I must be about My Father’ s business?’

And all the years of washing, feeding, caring, loving, holding, offer me this none gain:

‘Who is My Mother? Whoever does My Father’s will, the same...’

And all the years of watching, guiding, teaching, warning come at best to see Him slain,

A mother standing at a Cross seeing her boy destroyed by hate;

Is his thoughtfulness enough, to offer me another son,

And say to john, ‘dear John, behold, your mother’?

No, not really enough; there is no substitute for that first pain,

But motherhood can live for this: I heard a voice, which said,

‘This Thy Son was dead

But is alive again.’