Time to awake
Spring as we know is a gradual process which reveals itself through the softening and warming of the soil and the light growing stronger each day while the sap begins to rise. In many ways it parallels the Lenten journey. Our acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving should soften our hearts and encourage us to embrace the growing light and life which Christ offers us as we prepare to rejoice at Easter.
While as Sr Niamh Galvin in this month’s Intercom reminds us, we are celebrating the last day of Christmas on the Feast of the Presentation we are almost immediately moving into Trocaire’s Lenten campaign and the true work of Christmas which must now begin.
To paraphrase St Paul, there are all sorts of things to be tackled by all sorts of different people. Donal Dorr and Elizabeth Pedernal raise the plight of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
John Cullen reflects on the lives of prisoners and Liam Bergin reminds us in this year as we work towards the October national synodal gathering of the significance and implications of our baptismal calling.
We may have personal goals for 2026 that we are busy trying to implement by now but there are also the goals of the Kingdom to be kept firmly in view.
The liturgy and the world of nature combine this month to remind us that God is renewing all things both in the earth and in our souls. As the ancient hymn encourages us; ‘Wake up sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.’ (Eph 5:14) It’s time to awake.
Paul Clayton-Lea
Editor
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