Lent begins St Mary Abbots 060208

The Season of Lent begins this week as Jesus enters the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights.
Ash Wednesday is one of the most solemn and holy days of the year when Christian traditionally begin a season of reflection, meditation, study and prayer. In many churches, a cross marked in ashes made from last year's Palm crosses is marked on the head of believers.

Jesus is tempted and tested in the desert - yet is without sin.

And so, the focus in on each human person coming to terms with the reality of herself and himself.

The 20th century writer Thoma Merton wrote widely on how the 4th century Desert Fathers of Egypt, Arabia, Palestine and Persia went into the desert to mirror the desire of Jesus to reflect on the world and on society.

"What the Fathers sought most of all was their own true self, in Christ," he wrote. And that is a key aim for many Christians in Lent: to come to a great understanding of who we really eye in the face of God: our own true selves.

And so our prayer this Lent is rooted in the Collect which unites us across our churches:

Almighty and everlasting God,who hatest nothing that thou hast madeand dost forgive the sins of all them that are pentitent:create and make in us new and contrite heartsthat we, worthily lamenting our sinsand acknowledging our wretchedness,may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy,perfect remission and forgivenessthrough Jesus Christ our Lord;who liveth and reigneth with thee,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever.Amen