THE garden is a Lenten sermon. All round us the awakening earth provides a life-giving parable. With joyful eyes of wonder we gaze on snowdrop and crocus and daffodil. The Divine Sower comes once again to sow the seeds of holiness and of hope. What soil shall we offer in these 40 healing days as we join the pilgrim people of God who journey to the Holy Mountain of a Blessed Easter? Will we present a barren trampled pathway, a cold and sterile rock, choking thorns, or the fertile soil of a humble contrite heart?
The word "Lent" evokes lengthening days and the light-filled promise of spring time. We are called, in Scripture and in prayer, to awaken and to see if our Godgiven acres are untilled. All grace is given for action: "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts!" As we accept the gift of a healing Lent, St Paul speaks with persistent pleading: "now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation
We receive the Blessed Ashes, age old reminder of our need for repentance and of the fewness of our days. "Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return." As we reject what is destructive, and poisonous, and evil we listen to Isaiah, who reminds us that neglect of God has caused us to resemble ". . . oak trees" with fading leaves and a garden without water." If, in a holy Lent, we seek the Lord and His Truth we will be "as soil making young plants sprout up, as gardens causing seeds to grow . . . Jeremiah assures us that we will be "like well watered gardens and we will sorrow no more.
Even with good resolve and as we make space for listening prayer, for Scripture Word, and for healing Sacrament we are still aware of rooted weakness and of sad betrayal. St James gives fresh courage to all. "See how patient a farmer is as he waits for his land to produce precious crops. He waits patiently for the autumn and the springtime rains. You also must be patient! Keep your hopes high for the day of the Lord is near.
We join the world wide family of the Church as we come to the Redeeming Christ and unite in heart and voice as we ask for pardon, for healing, and for a heart open to the cry of the poor.
The day is come, the accepted day
When grace like nature, flowers anew;
Trained by thy hand, the surer way,
Rejoice, we in our Spring time too
(Morning Prayer of the Church for
Lent)
Mary, the Mother of the redeeming Christ, will open for us the Scriptures and say to us what she said at Cana in Galilee "Whatever He says to you, do it