Welcome to St Mary's the Virgin
Lent is upon us: the great Spring-clean for the soul. What shall we do? What shall we give up and abstain from? Or what good and healthy habit try and develop? One of the most obvious effects technology has had upon us in the last couple of decades has been how we buy things: we go online. Initially this might have remained with what we could call “stuff:” now it is practically everything, even what the newspapers call ‘the weekly shop’. For many years I thought of amazon (for example) as basically an online bookshop, useful when I couldn’t get out to a real one - now it is a vast encyclopaedic store where one can purchase everything from conkers to clerical shirts, though I would not recommend it for the latter. The danger, I think, is not simply the amount of money we could suddenly discover we have spent, but being put into such a huge department store, presented with everything we could ever want, tempted with teasers and special offers, but so little of what we actually need. In the temptation narratives in the Gospels you will remember the evil one takes Jesus to the top of a mountain to show him “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof:” just kneel here for same day delivery.
Something I am definitely aiming to do is do more of my shopping in real-life shops: it will take longer I know, but it is a truth universally acknowledged that excessive time looking at phone and computer screens is not good for us and getting out of the house is. I might even have to talk to other people.
Consider though the opposite as well - what if Jesus ran a delivery service (I realise he actually did this during his earthly ministry, but I am thinking of the more prosaic, through-the-letter-box sort of delivery), what would you ask for? Conversely, what do you think he would put through your door as a special offer, just for this Lent? The Lord’s personally prescribed plan is unique for each of us, but the special offer is always there.
If you are unsure and the divine voice seems quiet (as it often does), call a friend and chat to them about it - shop around - be brave and talk to a trusted soul about how each of you pray: see how they do things differently. In this season where chocolate is so often referred to, think of prayer as one of those tins with a variety of contrasting treats; some people love the nutty ones, some the soft centres, but to quote the old advert, “Every one is someone’s favourite!” It is never good to neglect the prayers we find comfortable, but it is always valuable to explore new ways and means to let the Almighty reach us. Don’t give up chocolate because you can’t think of anything else, eat some prayerfully and enjoy Jesus’ seasonal special offer.
Fr Neil.
