The following piece was first written for the February 15, 2026 pew sheet at St Augustine’s Anglican Church. I share it here again in the hope that it may continue to encourage and bless.
In last week's pew sheet I quoted C. S. Lewis, who argued that the New Testament leaves us no basis for treating Jesus merely as a good moral teacher while denying that he is the divine Son of God who came to save the world. That reminder is especially fitting as we prepare to enter Lent – a season that calls us to look steadily at Christ: who he is, what he has done and what it means to follow him. I warmly encourage you to plan to attend our Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes and Anointing with Oil this February 18th at 10am here in the church. Thank you to all who have volunteered to assist in the service.
Lent invites us into repentance, prayer and renewed discipleship. In reflecting on this season, I turn to another writer who has deeply shaped my faith: Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Across his writings, Bonhoeffer reminds us that Lent is not simply about self-denial for its own sake. It is about embracing the necessity of the cross, turning from superficial religion, and learning the costly grace of true discipleship. He teaches us not to fear suffering, but to find our true identity in Christ. Here are several of his words to guide our prayerful reflection:
'Celebrate! Lose your mindless fear, and take courage today … Take courage because Christ was crucified for you.'
'Each of us has his or her own cross, ready, appointed, and appropriately measured by God.'
'Self-denial means knowing only Christ, and no longer oneself. It means seeing only Christ, who goes ahead of us.'
'Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. But also remember that you are sheltered in life and death behind the righteousness of the One crucified with you.'
'Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.'
May this Lenten season draw us closer to Christ, deepen our repentance and renew our courage to follow him.
