Director of Faith and Mission

We welcome a change of mind, sometimes as a sign of compassion, sometimes as a sign of weakness. But not often do we look at a change of mind as a sign of strength. In Greek metanoia (metanoia) means repentance, or better, a change of mind, or a reorientation, a new way of looking at our world, and our relationships with our God and with each other.   

This kind of change of mind, or perhaps more appealingly for us, ‘change of heart’, is a deliberate choice that is made for myself and for my relationships with others. It cannot be made after being brow-beaten or harried, it can only happen after I have reviewed where I am in my life, where I want to go, and sorting out how I am going to get there. It will only be at my pace. This is how we would like our choices to be made – and when it comes to our life-changing decisions, this is how it should occur.   

Our daughter left home for the umpteenth time last year when she achieved a personal goal: she bought a house of her own. Not far from us. But finally, fully independent.  She had our blessing, of course. She is well and truly old enough, mature enough and ready to take on responsibility for her own life. The decision wasn’t ours; it was hers. We watched her as she came to this conclusion, how would we feel if she left, how would we be able to ‘help’ her, would we keep her room (for her)?  There were moments of regret, of sadness, of loss and ‘separation’, yet as we know, this is normal for each one of us. The baby has finally flown from the nest. The time had come.   

Mark (1:12 – 15) leaves us in no doubt that at the centre of Jesus’ mission is the proclamation of the Good News, spelt out by Jesus himself as, ‘The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent (i.e., change your heart), and believe the Good News.’   

It is quite possible that Mark saw an urgency in this message which we now no longer see. Yet in its wisdom, the church provides us with these next five weeks of Lent as opportunities for self-review, for making decisions big and small, for considering how best our lives can be lived in the present so that we can make a difference for the future. So yes, Lent is about abstaining from meat on Fridays, fasting, almsgiving and prayer. But it is also about how better to conserve our world for our children’s children, using the resources we already have more effectively and more productively, and actively seeking to become who we are called to be by our God. This is truly metanoia from the position of strength.   

Lenten discipline 

Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are the three traditional disciplines of Lent. The faithful should undertake these practices in a spirit of penance and in preparation for Easter.   

Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all who are 18 years of age and older, and who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday.    

Abstinence is observed by all 14 years old and older. On days of abstinence no meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday are days of abstinence. 

Mr Peter Douglas 

Director of Faith and Mission