Six Sundays

Lent recalls the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. So most Lent books will give you forty reflections or exercises. A Season of Silence is no exception. But there are forty six days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. What gives?

Well, traditionally on each of the six Sundays in Lent the Lenten discipline is relaxed. Sunday is Sunday. Jesus rose from the dead and we cannot keep silent. We always feast on Sunday.

But listening silence may be the kind of discipline you want to keep up seven days a week. I would encourage you to do so. And if you then want something to dig into on those six Sundays as well, here it is.

These reflections take advantage of the possibility people will have a more free time on Sunday. They suggest ways to practise silent, listening prayer in six different environments each of which may add a layer of richness to the experience.

They may need some planning, so please read each reflection well in advance of the Sunday in question.

Here’s what I suggest:

• First Sunday of Lent: Silence with a tree
• Second Sunday of Lent: Silence by a river
• Third Sunday of Lent: Silence with a view
• Fourth Sunday of Lent: Silence in complete silence
• Fifth Sunday of Lent: Silence in a public place
• Sixth Sunday of Lent: Silence by the sea