A Message for Lent from Bishop Harold: Recovering Conscience
Many of us have been reminded, not least through the trials surrounding Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart, of the reality that Christians can fall into all sorts of sin. In truth, we are not immune from any kind or level of fallenness. It would be a lovely (but untrue) thought that we only accidentally or unwittingly fall into sin, but the real blunt truth is that we can get used to sin, embrace sin in our lives, quash conscience, and begin to live dangerously double-lives.
My message this Lent is simply this: Let's listen again to our conscience: Not to do so is a road too dangerous to follow for this world, and for eternity. 'Keep your conscience clear’, says St Peter in 1 Peter 3:16; and the writer to the Hebrews is able, with a good conscience, to say, ‘We are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things’.
The Poverty Think Tank, which will meet until Easter and then report to me in preparation for the Diocesan Synod in June, is encouraging each parish to collect (and if possible distribute locally) non-perishable foodstuffs in a Supermarket trolley each Sunday during Lent. May I affirm this project. This could be a real visual reminder of the poverty which we find all around us, and a way for all of us in the diocese to engage.
+Harold
Down & Dromore