09/02/2016
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Reverend Richard Littledale.
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Script
Good Morning. I shrive; he, she or it shrives, you shrive or have shriven. This Anglo–Saxon grammar lesson harks back to the very origins of Shrove Tuesday – the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. When the bell tolled on that day – it was to summon people to church that they might shrive, or confess, their sins. Having done so, they became shrove, and could go home with a clear conscience, where they would use up all the eggs, flour and milk in the house before a season of fasting began all the way through to Easter.
Today – Shrove Tuesday - that simple part of the verb lingers on – and it’s particularly odd that it remains in the past tense – as if the confessing has all been done and dusted already. I suspect that is far from the truth. People are more likely to confess in an online chatroom or forum than to do it in church – if they do it at all. When I used to rush home from school in anticipation of pancakes for tea – confession was the last thing on my mind.
It would probably be different now. As an adult, I understand that the desire to be rid of our burdens is as old as humankind itself. From Moses losing his temper to Peter the disciple losing his way – the rhythm of confession, prayer and absolution accompanies us from cradle to grave. The words of Christ inviting us to ‘come to me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ are an invitation to change something fundamental which is troubling us. In days of old, I suspect that nothing ever tasted so good as a pancake eaten with a truly clear conscience.
Dear God, may today be a day to get rid of past burdens and regrets. Wherever, of however we confess – may you hear our prayer. Amen
Broadcast
- Tue 9 Feb 2016 05:43´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4