We invite you to pause and ponder on your journey through Lent with Josh tonight. Let us ponder the urgency in those rather sombre words of Jesus in the Gospel text for the third Sunday of Lent: “Unless you repent you too will perish.” Blessings

As we continue through Lent on our pilgrimage with Jesus, we ponder the Gospel text for the third Sunday of Lent, this year from Luke’s Gospel.  It tells of Jesus’ reaction to the news that Pilate has killed some Galilean pilgrims in the Jerusalem Temple.

On Station Island, the damage visible on St Patrick’s Cross reminds us that there were times in the past when to practise Christian faith was a dangerous matter. Sadly this remains the case even to this day.  We think of Fr Ragheed Ghanni from Iraq who worked with us several seasons on Lough Derg and who in June 2007 was martyred in Mosul with three fellow clergy after Sunday Mass in his parish.

In time, Jesus too would fall victim to Pilate’s violence.  In this Gospel text Jesus takes the opportunity to challenge his listeners – and us! – to reflect on how unpredictable life can be, and how foolish it is to be complacent about any aspects of our lives that may not be in order.

Over the two seasons that Lough Derg has been more or less closed, many would-be pilgrims have mentioned how much they look forward to being back here again, and of course we look forward making them welcome.  But no one is ever guaranteed a return to Lough Derg.  One visit, sooner or later, will turn out to be my last. Life can be so uncertain. 

Each day of Lent offers its own opportunity for devotion – and for repentance.

Let us ponder the urgency in those rather sombre words of Jesus: “Unless you repent you too will perish.”

Watch Maureen’s video for Week Two of Lent here

Keep up to date regularly with Lough Derg here