Journey through Lent

Today we start our devotional with a longer quote from C S Lewis

“If you asked twenty good men today what they thought the highest of virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you asked almost any of the great Christians of old he would have replied, Love. You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philosophical importance. The negative ideal of Unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point. I do not think this is the Christian virtue of Love. The New Testament has lots to say about self- denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself.” (from The Weight of Glory, by C. S. Lewis)

Perhaps this is a new way of looking at Lent where through prayerful practice, change happens, where the  negative becomes a positive. Do we need to go beyond the common focus of Lent reflected in the question on everyone’s lips in the season of Lent: “What are you giving up for Lent?” Surely the practice and prayer of Lent is to become a springboard from which to establish a lasting spiritual positivity.

This is the essence of Paul’s pleading to the Christian’s of Philippi when he says, “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8)

Well might we pray, Lord, thinking of these things is not so easy. I am bombarded with pictures and stories of what is unjust, dishonourable, impure, violent, shoddy and disreputable. This is what fills the journals and screens. Good news sells no papers. But I am not being escapist when I linger on people's goodness. The fact is, most of us do our best. It is the purveyors of negative  who are escapist, depressing company. Help me to “think on these things”. Amen