Our community is taking part in this simple Lent exercise together. Will you join us?

In 1654 Pascal, the scientific and spiritual prodigy, had a moment of insight from God that was so powerful he scribbled down his experience and sewed the note into his coat where it was found 8 years later, after his death.

There are some things we want to carry with us, want to bury in our lives.

This lent (beginning February 10), to prepare our hearts to receive Christ at Easter, we’ll invite God to plant seeds in our lives in a similar way.

It’s simple:

1. Each week, read the lectionary readings (click on the Sundays at www.lectionarypage.net).
   Choose a word or phrase from the reading that stands out (you don’t have to know why).
2. Write it on a tag. (We’re using these shipping tags. You could use index cards.)
3. Carry it with you for the week (in your coat/wallet/planner, on your keychain), asking God to nurture it in your heart and life.
4. Save the tags to reflect on during Holy Week as we prepare for Easter. If the reflection leads to a creative expression, please consider sharing it with the community!

(Adapted from a project created by Jim Robertson interfaceworship@gmail.com)

Pascal’s “Fire”

Memorial

In the year of grace, 1654, on Monday, 23rd of November, Feast of St Clement, Pope and Martyr, and others in the Martyrology. Vigil of St Chrysogonus, Martyr, and others.

From about half past ten in the evening until about half past twelve.

Fire!

God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,
Not of the philosophers and scholars.
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
“Thy God and my God.”
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God.
He is to be found only in the ways taught in the Gospel.
Greatness of the Human Soul.

“Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee,
But I have known Thee.”

Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.
I have separated myself from Him.
“They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters.”
“My God, wilt Thou leave me?”
Let me not be separated from Him eternally.

“This is eternal life, That they might know Thee, the only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”

Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.

I have separated myself from Him:
I have fled from Him,
denied Him,
crucified Him.
Let me never be separated from Him.
We keep hold of Him only by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Renunciation, total and sweet.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.
Eternally in joy for a day’s training on earth.
“I will not forget thy words.”

Amen.