Religious Education
Term 1 Week 3
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Lent comes from the word lencten which means springtime. In spring we know that the frost of winter melts and new life emerges in nature, so too shall our hearts melt and be renewed spiritually on the journey of Lent. It is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that mirrors Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert preparing him for his public ministry. Our 40 days help us prepare to celebrate Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday that is our redemption.
We can all understand the importance of taking time to ourselves, to reflect on what's important, making sacrifices for those we love and what our mission in life is - what God is calling us to.
On Ash Wednesday the preist blesses the ashes burned from last year's palms of Palm Sunday and places them on our foreheads in the sign of the cross to begin our journey. Ashes comes from the ancient Jewish tradition that symbolises the dust from which God made us and reminds us that this world is passing. As the priest applies the ashes he speaks the words "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or alternatively, "repent and believe in the Gospel". The colour of purple is seen across the church, on the priests vestments and in our prayer spaces and altars, symbolising penance.
This Wednesday we gathered as a whole school with Fr Justin in the hall who blessed and distributed the ashes on our foreheads. We sang hymns as praise and listened to readings of the Old and New Testament to inspire our hearts and minds in following Christ. We pray that our St Patrick's community have a blessed Lenten journey, growing closer to God's love and sharing that with one another.
Gospel Reflection
Gospel Reading
Jesus is tempted in the desert
Unpacking the Scriptures
The Gospel of Mark that we read this coming Sunday begins the First Sunday of Lent where Jesus journeys into the desert and is tempted by Satan for 40 days. Scripture tells us "the Spirit sent him out". This reveals to us that after recieving the Holy Spirit from His baptism, it was God's will for Jesus to journey into the desert before beginning his public ministry.
40 days in the desert is significant. It recalls the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt. It also reflects the 40 days in the desert the prophet Elijah journeyed towards the mountain of God, where he was also guided by an angel of the Lord.
Satan was once an angel of the Lord but decided not to trust in God's love. Since then he has continued to tempt God's children to reject Him that we read in stories such as Adam and Eve and this week's Gospel. Mark's telling of the story is short and succinct, but helps remind us that God's angels are always looking out for us and by Christ's example (as he shared our humanity with us), we can reject temptations and trust in the strength of love that our heavenly Father has for us.
Family Connection
During Lent, we are invited to strengthen and renew the promises that we made at our Baptism, to reject temptation and live as children of God. Discuss what this means as a family in how you treat one another and the way you live your lives that demonstrate you are a child of God. This can be simple everyday actions such as smiling, using your manners, stopping work to help someone else out, saying words of encouragement and "I love you" regularly. Take time to think of one or two things you can renew that demonstrates your love for one another.
Pray
Read together and discuss Mark 1:12-15. Light a candle (perhaps one of your family's baptism candle) and pray together:
Loving and Merciful God,
During this Lenten season, open ours hearts to the needs of others. We pray that we would not only give things up for Lent but also give you glory through Lent, Lord. May our actions reflect our hearts, and may we worship you through all that we say and do throughout the coming weeks. May we reflect your love and compassion in our actions, serving those who are suffering or in need. In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
God bless,
India Mitchell-Fletcher
Religious Education Leader